MCA out to help top SPM students
Chong: Funding to study overseas available
PETALING JAYA: Some 119 top SPM scholars will receive partial funding to pursue their studies overseas, thanks to intervention by the MCA.
“I am pleased to announce that the Federal Government has once again given the green light for 2014 and 2015 Public Service Department (PSD) bursary recipients to utilise funds meant for local universities for studies abroad upon their acceptance at some of the world’s distinguished universities,” MCA Youth chief Datuk Chong Sin Woon said yesterday.
The shortfall, however, will have to be borne by each student, he added in a statement to the media.
Separately, Chong also said the Government will sponsor 80% of the tuition fees of those who have been accepted to study at Oxford, Cambridge and Ivy League universities.
It was earlier reported that the bursary programme would no longer support all SPM students who scored 9A+ and above to study at the most prestigious universities in the world following the Budget recalibration announcement last year.
Instead, they will only receive funding to study at top local private and public universities.
Disheartened, the 119 bursary recipients from SPM 2014 who have just completed their preuniversity courses, then had approached the MCA Youth Education Bureau for help.
Chong, who is also Deputy Education Minister, met Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa on July 6 , to find a resolution for the students.
“MCA is particularly grateful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Dr Ali, and the directorgeneral of PSD Datuk Seri Zainal Rahim Seman,” he said.
Chong pointed out they were wiling to listen to enable these students to fulfil their aspirations to complete their studies overseas.
He said other bursary recipients, apart from the 119, can still appeal to PSD to partially sponsor their studies overseas, but they will be considered on a casebycase basis.
Last year, MCA Youth assisted 144 bursary recipients in gaining partial funding for their studies overseas, of which nine gained admission to Oxford, Cambridge and Ivy League universities.