Tan Sri Ismail Adam - 'Please do not over rule the Honorable Prime Minister's decision'

The recent announcement by PSD Director General Tan Sri Ismail Adam is something that has caused a lot of uneasiness among 2008 SPM students and their respective parents. This issue is very close to the heart of the people and much thought should be given before a decision is reached. The previous year when there was a public outcry when students with flying results were denied scholarships the honorable Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi diffused the situation by announcing that any student who achieved 9 straight A1s would be allocated scholarships. This intervention by the prime minister was timely and very well received by the rakyat.

Tan Sri Adam has categorically stated that not all straight As students will be eligible for scholarships. This is definitely a step backward for the countries education system and overall aim of increasing and enhancing the human resource capability of the nation. Those who are have worked hard and attained excellence should be rewarded and no less then the Prime Minister has agreed to this. Putera MIC strongly objects to the PSD Director Generals statement which implies this practice will be stopped. We strongly urge Tan Sri Adam to carefully rethink the decision and make a decision that is in the best interest of the students and their futures.

When the Prime Minister made the decision last year there was overwhelming support for it. Has the Prime Minister agreed to the new decision? How come he didn’t state the scholarships were only for the year it was announced and not for the future too? What has changed so drastically that such a well received decision has to be reversed? The people are watching this issue very closely and they need to be reassured that the government has the interests of the people at heart when making a decision. Students should be confident that when they study hard and do well the government will reward their effort and this will spur them to work harder.

Another point we would like to raise is the fact that by Tan Sri Adam’s own calculation there are 2000 overseas scholarships and there are 1676 student with straight A1s. This being the scenario shouldn’t all those who got straight A1s be entitled to scholarships. Even if all those who got straight A1s were given scholarships there would be about 300 and more available for others. As for those who got straight As the local 10 000 scholarships will be available to them.

As a country striving to become more competitive and first world in all ways, educational policies are of paramount importance. Taking this into consideration we urge all involved rethinking their decision and doing what’s best for students and the country. The people await a decision for them and supporting their well being and not against them. PSD hopefully will not disappoint.

MY VIEWS....

I remembered what was said once by Dato' Seri Nazri - A Government servant must just be a government servant he cannot be a political master or change it to be a government master. A government servant does the job instructed by the political master.

It seems that everyone wants to over rule the Prime Minister's decision ? Why ? Do they think that they can be a better Prime Minister or the Prime Minister is not capable enough to make his decision.