Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Alamak! Looks like Minister Nazri had unwittingly proven what parents and disgruntled Malaysians suspected all along. 10% quota allocation for normal Malaysians for PSD scholarships all this while. He clarified that 7282 students were shortlisted from 15220 (previously, PSD director gave a rough estimate of 7500 out of 15000 students).
There is fairer distribution of Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships for all races for degree studies abroad from this year, with 1,100 going to Bumiputeras and 900 to non-Bumiputeras.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the breakdown was 50 percent and 45 percent respectively, compared with only 10 percent for non-Bumiputera students previously.
He said from the 15,220 applicants for scholarships under the programme, 7,282 were called for interviews and only those who could meet the criteria were selected for the scholarships.
The criteria is academic achievement (70 percent), co-curricular involvement (10), family background (10) and interview (10).
Nazri disclosed this when winding up the debate at the committee level on the Supplementary Supply Bill 2008 (2007) in the Dewan Rakyat here today.
He said the PSD sponsorship was for students who had obtained places at Ivy League universities and other institutions of the same level abroad or students doing first degree programmes at foreign university branch campuses in Malaysia, such as Monash University, Nottingham University, Curtin University and Swinburne University.
Nazri said at the moment, the government had no intention of increasing the number of the scholarships as the scheme depended on the government’s financial capacity.
KUALA LUMPUR: It is a privilege to receive a scholarship, not a right to receive one, says Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
“Not all high achievers will get the scholarships,” he said, adding that the Government at the moment allocated only 2,000 students who excelled in their SPM, to be sent overseas.
Of the 15,220 applicants, a total of 7,282 were called in for interview and out of the 7,000-odd candidates, 2,000 were selected.
“The scholorships are limited but there are a lot of applicants,” he said Wednesday when winding up the Supplementary Supply Bill at the Dewan Rakyat.
To another question by Ahmad Maslan (BN – Pontian) to increase the number of scholarships, Nazri said the Government could not afford to give 2,000 now.
Nazri also said students who did well in public examinations but came from well-to-do backgrounds also deserved a scholarship.
He explained that a student is granted scholarship based on academic performance (70%) and interview, background and extra-curricular activities (30%).
He answered the questions very clearly…and calm enough when put under pressure. (maybe he behave decently because he knows it was being live telecast in TV)
He said currently Gov only “mampu” to offer 2000 places…and he agreed with Azmin Ali PKR,Gombak (my MP hehe) that GOv must redefine and make known the meaning of “top scorer”.