Cabinet to get PSD report on overseas grant next week

PETALING JAYA: The Public Service Department (PSD) is expected to present its full report on overseas study scholarships at the next Cabinet meeting.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said he had brought the matter up at the last Cabinet meeting and was informed that PSD would present its paper next week.

“I will always monitor to ensure that the welfare of students trying to obtain financial aid is protected.

“As I mentioned earlier, I am very sympathetic to the situation experienced by the students. But the Education Ministry also understands the financial constraints faced by the PSD,” he said in a statement.

A-Levels student Edmund Kong said their group, which has dwindled to 46 students, appreciated Dr Maszlee’s efforts and concerns.

Kong, who started a petition to the government to review its policies on overseas scholarships, was one of 63 students who hoped to obtain PSD scholarships to study at prestigious foreign universities.

He told The Star that the offers of most of the students had lapsed or they had found other means of funding their studies, without elaborating on the methods chosen.

He also said they were still waiting for news from PSD. They submitted their petition three months ago and were told by PSD that it would be presented to the Cabinet.

Kong said the students had received offer letters from 50 top universities. So far, 10 of them had to enrol in local varsities instead.

He said they understood the financial problems faced by PSD.

“We hope that our recommendations can be taken into account for future policies,” Kong added.

In 2016, opportunities for overseas scholarships were substantially cut due to a recalibration in the previous government’s budget.

The PSD currently offers overseas undergraduate scholarships for only the top 20 SPM students. Another 200 scholarships are meant for engineering studies in Japan, South Korea, Germany and France.