SELAYANG: One of Selangor's top SPM students, who achieved 14As and a grade point average of 92.5 for her extra-curricular activities, is reeling in disbelief after being rejected for a Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship.
Lishaliney Uthrapathy dreams of becoming a doctor.
She had pinned all her hopes in getting the scholarship because her father, the family's sole breadwinner, is a factory worker and does not have the means to finance her entire tertiary education.
Said her mother, Amutha Subramaniam: "When my daughter chose the 14 subjects, I told her that if she studied hard, she could rest assured that her future would be taken care of."
When her daughter's excellent results came in, Amutha, 41, was overjoyed, brimming with pride as her eldest daughter had proven her academic worth.
"But our family's aspirations for Lishaliney have been shattered. The rejection is unfair and my daughter has lost all faith that what we taught her to believe is true," said Amutha, who could not control her tears during an interview with Streets recently.
Saddest of all, perhaps, is Lishaliney herself.
"When I learnt I had scored 14As, I was overjoyed. I knew I was one step closer to achieving my life-long dream of being a doctor."
The ace student then applied for a scholarship as her examination score and extra-curricular activities grade point average surpassed the qualification criteria of the PSD.
Then came the crushing rejection.
"The faith Lishaliney's parents had in the selection criteria of the scholarship has been destroyed. Not to mention, the trust in government policy," said Putera MIC chief P. Kamalanathan, who has taken an interest in the 17-year-old's case.
He said the rejection had put the government's transparency policy in question.
"Lishaliney has been unjustly treated, and I hope the PSD board will consider her appeal because she surpassed all qualifying criteria and possesses a good record of extra-curricular activities," said Kamalanathan.
On a related issue, Kamalanathan issued a press statement calling on the government to ensure that eight per cent of places in all higher education institutions are allocated to Malaysian Indians.
"Last year, slightly more than five per cent of places were given to Indians. Yet, there are many more Indians who deserve them and have met the criteria for selection. We only ask for what is ours and hope the government will be fair in the matter."
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7 comments:
Hie everybody, Vanakkam.
Malaysia's PSD have announced their scholarship results. This PSD scholarships offered to 2007 SPM high achievers. 2000 scholarships offered.
Sadly only 72 Indians won the race and crowned as 2008 PSD scholars. ONLY 72 out of 2000?? Yup, its really sad to see such a small number. Only 72 High achievers among the Indians in 2007 SPM??
Lets look at the numbers. 259 Indian students achieved "high" results in 2007 SPM. ( I am not very sure about the requirements needed to be classed as high achievers. i assume that the student who scored A1's in all the subjects).
Out of 259, ONLY 72 got PSD scholarship. 187 high achievers failed to be PSD scholar or shall i say has been denied their RIGHT to get PSD scholarship despite their PERFECT results.
12 A1 - 3 students
11 A1 - 7 students
10 A1 - 68 students
9 A1 - 66 students
8A1 - 43 students.
"Who else i need to impress?" - Question asked by a Indian girl who scored 12A1 and failed to get PSD scholarship.
For past few days, MIC leaders giving out press statement urging the PSD to reconsider. YB Sivarasan from PKR hold a press conference in Perak to highlight this matter to public view and made his point that government being very unfair to the Indians.
So everyone cares. No matter he is in the mainstream or the opposite. But is that enough??
What are they going to do to make sure that this "Malaysian Indian Jewells" gets what rightfully theirs?
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MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu today met Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan to appeal on behalf of 187 Malaysian Indian high achievers who were denied Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships this year.
He explained to the Chief Secretary on the need to help these students. This is in line with our aspiration to create at least two professionals in every Indian family in the country.
Samy Vellu said MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, who is also Human Resources Minister, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department S.K. Devamany and MIC Education Bureau chief Prof Datuk T. Marimuthu would meet PSD director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam later today on the matter.( 21 Mei 2008)
So lets see if MIC's "Round table discussion" method will solve this issue.
"Sathanai Namathu Kaiyile, Sarithiram Padaipom Natile,
Sothanai Ayiram Vanthalum, Thuninthey Name munneruvom"
Every other country provides bright future for high achiever, they never stifle them.
But why in Malaysia, it is killing the cream of the crops? Is it a fault being a non-Malay Malaysian?
this must be a joke...
"On a related issue, Kamalanathan issued a press statement calling on the government to ensure that eight per cent of places in all higher education institutions are allocated to Malaysian Indians."
8% only?!!
What happenned to meritocracy? I can safely bet that if meritocracy had been in rule, there'd be more than 8% of Indians in IPTAs.
Why is it that MIC is only content on asking that "our 8% allocation" is fullfilled? Why not ask for places for whoever that deserves it instead on the emphasis on skin colour?
with all due respect sir(s), being content with what is given to us is NOT EQUAL to what we deserve by virtue of excellence, in this case education.
I await your reply. Thank you.
Dear Mr. Kav,
Vanakkam and Greetings to you.
I agree with you, MERITOCRACY was the only criteria. For your information the MOHE has then implemented 90% Meritocracy and 10% on Co-Cu. My statement in the print media was that - Malaysian Indian Students should be given a minimum of 8%, which means if we have more students who meets the criteria then they should be given the place.
I hope my explanation on the above matter clarifies ur quiries.
PKamalanathan
Dear Mr.Kamalanathan,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
You did not actually fully answer my question. I do not agree with 8% nor any number of percentage that is given. Nor will most of your readers who wants clarity and transparency.
You say that you asked to be given a minimum of 8%. My question above was why the 8% minumum? Why not full meritocracy? Why should there be a minimum/maximum?
When a minimum is set, more than often, only the minimum is fulfilled.
I am only arguing based on the excerpt from the above post. If you can publish the details of the press statement that you made, then we would be more informed of your actions.
As you've probably already known, information from the mainstream media is rarely trusted now. So please, by all means, publish your statements by yourself to us, and we will dissect it accordingly.
I agree with Kav here. What is the need for 8%??
Mr Kamalanathan, lets picture a small "What-if" situation here. Lets say that the 8% quota for Indians has been fulfilled ok, there were no other bright Indians and the existing Indians students make up exactly 8% of the total.
Now lets also assume that Chinese fulfilled their 20 exactly and "the Others" fulfilled their 2% exactly.
This leaves the 60% for Malays. Lets also say that Malay high-achievers only made up 50%, we couldn't find any other Malay perfect scorers and as by the Ministry's standards anything less than a perfect (all A1's) are not accepted to fulfill the remaining 10%.
What will you do then? Which race will you pick?
Will you pick less perfect scorers from the Malays? But than the less perfect scorers of other races will want that slice of pie too?
Let me tell you what will happen. The remaining 10% will go to Malays although their score are not perfect. The Ministry turns a blind eye (or in fact endorses it secretly). The public will never know about this. In fact, many of the non-Malay students will be baffled as how their Malay counterparts got into university with shitty marks.
This is why quota systems won't work.
I agree with naga here with the point " Will you pick less perfect scorers from the Malays?"
That is what has been happening for ages. The logic behind this move is the government wants to help the less bright Bumis too. Quality is compromised! The governemnt doesn't care about quality as long as the bumis become professionals(half-baked).
That is why you find STUPID doctors in the hospitals. They could tell you "Ini macam kencing manis ni!" They can't confirm it and they would discuss among themselves right in front of the patients. Such DUMB doctors we have. Easily curable diseases are turning into fatalities due to this idiotic doctors. They have the cheek to demand for high pay. I would give a loooonnnngg FART on their face!
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