The True Statistics : PSD SCHOLARSHIPS

Is there a quota, hidden or otherwise, placed on bumiputera and non-bumiputera students in the award of scholarships?

If I don't remember wrongly, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) has previously denied such "formal" quotas being in existence. However, with the recent release of statistics by Datuk Dr Abdullah Mat Zin, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in Parliament a few days ago, and published only in Sin Chew Jit Poh( but not in any other local newspapers), it has become crystal clear that there exists a specific quota on bumiputera and non-bumiputera receipients of JPA scholarships.

As the table below clearly shows, JPA has made it a specific point to award 80% of overseas scholarships to bumiputera students and the balance 20% to non-bumiputera students every years since 2000. Nothing was disclosed prior to that year.

The stats did not cover 2006 as this was published prior to the JPA results being announced..

The question then is, is this a just and equitable distribution of scholarships to young Malaysians?

Personally, I'm a firm believer of affirmative action, even racially based ones under certain circumstances. However, to have between 70-80% of scholarship awards reserved for a particular ethnic group which constitutes approximately 65.9% of the population is to me grossly unjust. Meanwhile the lesser unfortunate one of them all( i mean races) is surely the Indians when they can only pray for the luxury of only having about 2.0% Quata of JPA scholarships which will be only about 30 scholars of 1500 scholars.

But by all means the goverment is still going on with its daily politics and fuming out ever more new campaign the most recent the 9MP ot the 9th Malaysian Plan which emphasized the 10 guiding principles of Islam Hadhari, which includes amongst others:

• A just and trustworthy government;
• Free and liberated people;
• A rigorous pursuit and mastery of knowledge;
• Balanced and comprehensive economic development;
• A good quality of life for the people;
• Protection of the rights of minority groups and women;
• Cultural and moral integrity;

It is hence, of great importance for the Prime Minister, the Government and its relevant authorities to reform its current scholarship policies which are clearly in breach of the above principles to ensure that not only the economic objectives of the 9MP are met, but also the moral and ethical ones.



Footnote: While I feel very strongly with regards to the above topic, I actually had to think twice about publishing this blog on this thorny issue. As a sensitive issue, more often than not, it'll raise debates and comments which are inconsiderate, racially-biased and even irrational, driven by unmitigated emotions under the anonymity of the Internet. Hence, I'd like to implore on readers out there to please comment with thought, reason, maturity and responsibility to demonstrate that we can deal with such issues without being prejudiced and destructive.tq......