poobalan.com

After it was revealed that this year, 45% of the PSD’s 2000 scholarships are being allocated to normal Malaysians, few extremist groups were unhappy and quite vocal about it. For the last decade, the normal Malaysians have been marginalized by only being allocated 10% of the scholarship, but this is conveniently left out during the argument.

Today’s Star (hard copy) said allocation for normal Malaysians were 50% while its online version mentioned 45%. Actually 5% is for “others”, 45% for normal Malaysians, and 50% for privileged Malaysians. Not sure who is the others are. Non-Malaysians?

Some groups said the allocation should reflect the population breakdown. Does it mean breakdown of privileged/normal Malaysians, or by race (Malays, Indians, Chinese, Dayaks, Kadazans, Orang Asli, etc). We have to be careful here because sometimes the terms bumiputera and Malay are liberally interchanged in use depending on the advantage it brings.

Most disappointingly, the quota will be reviewed, as mentioned by Najib.

My take: offer it only for those who deserve it by merit and family financial background. PSD perhaps can announce that it will offer scholarship for those who get 12A1s and family income is below RM3000 for the comin SPM examinations. In this way, students will know in advance what they should aim for.