Friday, May 15, 2009

PSD Scholarship & MCA

No matter what the news or blogs say, I can assure you that the Malaysian Chinese Association leaders are caring for the people especially scholarship matters.

In the past, Tun Dr Ling and Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting have gone to the ground to listen to the people's grouses and plead for assistance financially and academically.

Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, in particular, was very down to Earth and he took it to himself to help the Malaysians who were not rewarded with scholarships.

Many were academically strong and among the best in the country. Some had good results and financially unable to proceed to higher education institutions on their own.

Yet they did not receive scholarships. Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and the rest of the MCA leaders were helpful to go through the thousands of appeal every year and many were given scholarships after the appeal via case by case review.

The efforts did not drizzle out under Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat's leadership of MCA now.

Leaders such as Dr Wee Ka Siong have consistently listened to the complains of the people be it at State level or the National level at Wisma MCA.

No one was left out and MCA continued their service to the community.

I can testify in any Commission or Court of law if needed to substantiate my claim that MCA has never slacked in their service to the people and I can provide true accounts of MCA's efforts in helping scholarship applicants.

4 MCA Cabinet Ministers have discussed with the Prime Minister about the scholarship allocation review. It is seen as a good move in nurturing good brains.

However, this will not solve the brain drain. I will elaborate more some other time but I have also written this before HERE and in a letter to The Star.

After the meeting, a press conference was made and Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said that the Cabinet has already discussed that a review of the criteria should be done.

Yet, I do not know why today Tan Sri Ismail Adam, the Director of JPA, can come out and claim that there won't be a review because the current criteria is academic (75%), co-curricular activities (10%), family background (10%) and interview (5%).

Just yesterday, MCA President provided a different account that currently, the selection is based on four criteria - merit (20%), race (60%), Sabah and Sarawak citizens (10%) and students from underprivileged groups (10%).

I am interested to know which "selection criteria" was presented as an argument in the Cabinet for discussion.

If I am not mistaken, I think Tan Sri Ismail Adam's criteria is the right one as pointed out once a year or two ago.

It is really shocking to hear about the "selection criteria" which Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat claimed.

There are only two possibilities. If DS Ong has erred, then I blame only his aides for giving him the wrong information.

Where have you all been and what is happening? Or is there a plot to bring down the MCA President voted in by 1429 MCA delegates? Pressure has been stacking on the Presidential team of MCA lately.

I am also really unhappy with the split of MCA again.

The Party Elders must step in and heal the rift between the two teams in MCA. Otherwise, the party will not survive past the 13th General Election.

The other possibility is if DS Ong Tee Keat's claim is true and JPA has another set of official selection criteria for show only, then the Department must be held accountable and answers must be given to the Prime Minister's Department on why double standards exist.

For those who require other scholarship information, please refer to
  1. Doctorjob Scholarships (not sure if this still exist)
  2. Malaysia Scholarships

Just to make a note, MCA is also a Party that serves all communities. For those who do not know, MCA has an education foundation fund - Chang Ming Thien Foundation.

The criteria there clearly states that students from poor families with good results regardless of race can apply for funds to undertake further studies abroad such as Taiwan, Ukraine, Russia, China, Australia, Singapore, USA, Canada, Indonesia and New Zealand etc.

Find out more HERE.


(Credits to The Star, Bernama and Daylife for the photos)

4 comments:

Jimmy Tham said...

Yes. MCA tried their best. No doubt. Their hands are bound at times.

Let's shift the argument a little here. Why the need of appeal in the 1st place and why approve their appeal after that if after all they are deserving?

I forgot where or when, if I'm correct, it was once revealed in parliament that ever since the formation of Malaysia, more than 500,000 thousands malaysians have emigrated elsewhere. Mind you, it's not easy to emigrate to developed countries in the 1st place. You either gotta have high qualifications, academically or experience, or you're above the middle income bracket. These people are assets which we need to play catch up with developed countries and not bickering on who gotta rule the state with a mere population.

Anonymous said...

If such a simple thing as giving scholarships to deserving Msians, the MCA has to beg,

then what's the benefit or point in being part of the government?

The MCA and its 15 MPs should pull out of BN and join Anwar Ibrahim.

Period.

bypasser said...

Fully concur with anonymous.
This is the job for being in the government. They are being mandated by the people to carry out these work. Should the people bow and say thank you for them to do the work which is a necessary one?

Anonymous said...

Yesss bbbbbut if the MCA JUST give back the 8 billion or so ringgit they looted from the PKFZ PROJECT -that shd be enough to pay for the scholarship of 20000 students.

what a brilliant idea.

ex-mca accolyte