Government must answer three questions on 1 MDB scholarships to SPM top scorers

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Government must answer three questions about 1 MDB scholarships to SPM top scorers.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said 1MDB is offering 500 scholarships to 8A+ scorers in the SPM examination this year to study in public and private academic institutions in the country.

He said priority will be given to 8A+ achievers who failed to get a Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship” Nazri said scholarship holders at public academic institutions would receive RM7,500 a year for critical and non-critical courses.

Those at private academic institutions would receive RM15,000 a year for critical courses, and RM7,500 a year for non-critical courses, he added.

Nazri’s announcement raises two questions.

Firstly, when the Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib mentioned that all students who scored 8A+ and above will be given scholarships, was he not referring to PSD scholarships?

Then why are there 8 A+ scholars who have failed to be given such scholarships,whether overseas or local scholarships?

Let me remind the Prime Minister what he was quoted on May 28 on this question.

While the Government promises scholarships for all top students, not everyone will be sent overseas, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said the Government was committed to giving Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships to SPM students with results of 8A+ and better.

“We didn't promise that everyone will get overseas scholarships. This is what the public did not understand,” he told reporters here yesterday .

Secondly , PSD scholarships are full scholarships. Is it fair that top scorers who have failed to obtain PSD scholarships are now given 1 MDB scholarships which are not even enough to cover tuition fee cost at reputable private universities like Monash Sunway and Nottingham Malaysia?

The media has also quoted Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib that he will decide on the successful SPM top scorers who will be given the 1 MDB grants upon his return from Kazakhstan.

The questions that arises here is why should the decision be decided by one individual?

Since the criteria have been spelt out, why can’t the grants be awarded according to the announced criteria?

The government must answer the three questions on 1 MDB grants to SPM top scorers.