Talk on Biasiswa

It has been long since the last time I posted a serious stuff on this blog. What I mean serious is an issue which has nothing to do with my takes on music, movie, travel or tv shows. Don't worry, Mus. I'm NOT talking about politics today.

For the past few days, I've read a number of articles on the same issue on a couple of sites, particularly Susan Loone blog & Malaysiakini. It's about the revised scholarship quota to be offerred by JPA, from 10% to 45% places reserved for non-Bumiputera.

For the record, I'm not a fan of quota policies which is quite famous in Malaysia and our neighbour, Singapura. Do you know that in Singapore, there is a policy on racial composition at a housing estate. If my memory from my fieldtrip to Singapore in last March serves me right, in any housing estate, 80% plus must be Chinese, X% must be Malays, Y% Indians and Z% Others. Similarly, the Government maintains a strict policy on population breakdown. If the Indian population shorts of its official ratio, for example, an equivalent number of Indian-origin immigrants will be bring into Singapore so that the percentage of races in Singapore will be stably maintained.

Coming back to JPA scholarship issue, the Government has recently announced about her intention to increase the number of scholarship for non-Bumiputera from 200 places to 900.

Some has applauded the move while some has urged the Government to reconsider the said plan (or is it confirmed already?). And some even suggested that the Government increased the total number of scholarship from its current 2000.

It would be good with the Government could increase the number of JPA scholarship, but if there is financial constraint on the Government part, I personally think that JPA should do away with this quota policy. But don't jump to any conclusion yet because I'm not finish. At the same time, JPA should amend its criteria to ensure fairness and at the same time enhance the effectiveness of its scholarship programme.

I personally think that there should be two categories for JPA scholarship.

The first category is what I call as the Malaysia's BEST. It's a limited places for Top 10 SPM or STPM achievers, regardless of their race or family background. The reason is, if they're the BEST, even if they're sons or daughters of Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, why must they being penalised or denied of the reward for their outstanding achievement. This scheme is similar to what the Central Bank of Malaysia has now. Bravo Dr. Zeti and her team!

The second category is open for the rest of SPM and STPM HIGH achievers (let say, at least 9A1 for SPM or 4A for STPM), who come from households below certain income level. This to ensure that the Government effectively helps the children of rakyat terbanyak to excel academically. At the same time, we're sending a clear signal to well off families to become more responsible and caring citizens - NOT TO STEAL other people's opportunities to access to tertiary education. These people should stop asking bantuan from the Government if they on the other hand, can afford luxury cars or overseas vacations or shopping trips.

And let other Government agencies like MARA and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia or NGOs or zakat authorities deals with other deserving bright students from low income families or those in the poverty category, but don't qualified for JPA scholarship. And I also hope MARA could also tightening its criteria so that the children of Melayu or Bumiputera Korporat do not eligible for its scholarship unless these children are straight As students. Again, if they can afford to support their children's education the Government should make sure they do so without any duit bantuan from the people's money.

Does this make any sense? I really, really think so.


p/s: My heartfelt condolence to my dear friend, Rudy who recently lost his beloved mother. May Allah bless her soul and place her among His believers. Al-fatihah.