The Education Ministry will assist medical graduates who do not have Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Bahasa Malaysia (BM) qualifications to sit for the BM SPM examination, said Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon.

"As far as (the Ministry of Education) is concerned, we are there to help by (having) one exam to qualify them for public service," he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

"We will do our part and allow these students to take just one SPM subject - BM - and not all six subjects, as required previously."

The six core SPM subjects are BM, English, Mathematics, Science, History and Islamic/Moral Studies, with BM and History being compulsory pass subjects to obtain the SPM certificate.

Chong also clarified that the requirements to join the civil service was set by the Public Service Department (PSD), and not his ministry.

This comes after several groups, including Umno Youth, spoke out against the PSD's decision to waive SPM BM requirements for medical graduates applying for house officer training in teaching hospitals.

The waiver has come under fire by various leaders and organisations, including Umno Youth, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Pertubuhan Warisan Melayu Negeri Johor, the Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) and Kelab Umno Luar Negara.

They claimed the waiver would undermine the position of BM in the country.

Pahang Umno Youth leader Sahar Abdullah said the waiver would result in double standards, as other civil servants are required to possess at least a pass for BM at the SPM level.

Some 300 affected medical graduates do not have SPM qualification because they studied abroad or sat for the O-Level examinations.

Medical graduates in Malaysia must undergo house officer training before qualifying as medical officers and are required to do compulsory public service.

Those who do not complete this cannot practice medicine in Malaysia.