it's pretty simple really...

if you want (or can only afford) to go to ipta, do matrik...it's the easiest, and the best chance of getting good results....and will get preference into ipta....

if you want and can afford to do private education, do a levels....it is also the easiest to get good grades, and most ipts are pretty lax on what they want from a levels....you will almost be guaranteed the course you want....even critical ones....

if no money, and not a malay and did not get a place in matrik, then do stpm, but be prepared for poorer results, and not getting the course that you want....

if you want to study outside msia, it is NO point doing matrik, so your decision is correct....

if you are not aiming for critical courses, then stpm is a good and cheap compromise....it IS recognised by all unis in uk/oz/spore....

the main problem with stpm is the difficulty in getting good grades, as it is purposely marked down at the top to give advantage to matrik students...

that factor will be crucial for critical courses even outside msia, and you will also loose out to a levels students in foreign uni selections....

but for non critical courses, the cut offs are usually pretty basic, so it matters not whether you get aaa in a levels or bbb in stpm.....you will still get in.....