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Focus Malaysia
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Pupil with 8As in SPM denied scholarship: Are there too many straight As scorers around?
THIS is not a new lament but one that is growing increasingly louder with applications for scholarships especially competitive. Self-proclaimed feminist and anti-racist Loretta (@lorettabagg) has shared a case whereby a pupil who scored 8As in his SPM was faced with a number of scholarship rejections, including from the Public Service Department (JPA), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Shell, UEM Group, Yayasan Telekom and Khazanah Nasional Bhd. Stiff competition among a pool of qualified individuals was cited for the rejections in the post which has garnered 2.2M views, 1.8K likes, 1K shares and 330 comments at the time of writing. Poor kid, full straight As for SPM and zero scholarships. Didn't Anwar make promises for straight A students? And his Tiktok is full of racist comments. So many rejections when all they're asking for is a right to study — Loretta (@lorettabagg) July 17, 2025 What more could the pupil identified as Sugavaneshwarar SPK Sundram do? All he wanted was a fair crack at furthering his academic journey, the poster exclaimed. It was also pointed out the pupil's original TikTok post was flooded with racist comments. The fact that he was only called for a second interview once meant he was not even given a chance to present his suitability with the other organisations. Pakatan Harapan's (PH) promises made to the Indian community in its manifesto were also highlighted by the poster who deemed these rejections as proof of systemic bias and failure of the Madani administration in fulfilling its electoral pledges to the Indian community. One commenter pointed out that the pool of high achievers was significantly larger considering that scoring 8As these days is nothing special anymore. He also chided the poster for continuing to have a 'play victim' mentality. However, there were those who did not believe the system was made to favour Bumiputera pupils. In fact, the reverse is truem argued one commenter who claimed that many Bumiputera pupils, too, did not qualify for places in higher academic institutions due to the quota system. Another commenter shared that she, too, experienced rejection, not once but twice! Both she and her daughter achieved good academic results but it was still not good enough for scholarships or education aids. This happened despite their Bumiputera status. This was when a commenter argued that it was not systemic bias or prejudices of any sort but rather the extremely limited number of scholarships available that is the issue. He went on to reveal how intense is the competition for scholarships with his sibling having gone through a rigorous selection process. Echoing this sentiment was another commenter who pointed to the stark reality – over 14,000 pupils scored straight As in SPM last year. Henceforth, there is simply insufficient scholarships for that number. It was posited that successful candidates need to have more rounded CVs (curriculum vitae) aside from academic excellence. Sporting excellence and extra-curricular pursuits would perhaps help. Therein perhaps lie the crux of the matter. First and foremost, there are not enough scholarships available. Could the private sector and GLC (government-linked corporations)-linked organisations do more to provide more education opportunities to deserving students? Secondly, the increasing number of straight As is perhaps indicative of declining exam standards rather than improving students. This dilution in academic rigour has unfortunately led to heightened expectations from some who thought they may have hit the jackpot with their 8As. Alas, as the rejections above underline that scoring 8As alone is not enough. – July 20, 2025 Post script: The poster Loretta was infuriated at the fact that some commenters tagged the PDRM (Riyal Malaysia Police) for having brought up the scholarship woes of Sugavaneshwarar. She further wondered why there were some 15,000-20,000 scholarships disbursed last year (citing the AI-powered X chatbot @Grok) yet so many top pupils did not receive them. – July 20, 2025
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysian students abroad urged to embrace cultural exchange
WELLINGTON: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called on Malaysian students overseas to actively participate in local communities, emphasising the importance of cultural exchange beyond academic pursuits. Speaking at a gathering with over 250 Malaysian students and residents in New Zealand, Ahmad Zahid highlighted the value of learning from indigenous cultures, particularly the Maori community. 'Don't just learn from inside the lecture rooms, tutorials, or professors' offices. We should also introduce ourselves to the local communities and learn their cultures, especially the Maori culture here, which is rich with historical values and a spirit of resilience,' he said. The event was attended by Malaysia's High Commissioner to New Zealand Mazita Marzuki, alongside official delegates and senior government officers. Ahmad Zahid praised the Maori community's ability to preserve their heritage while managing economic assets through trust agencies since the 19th century. 'We need to learn from their spirit and strength in fighting for their rights and adapt that to the Malaysian context, especially in empowering the Orang Asli communities,' he added. The deputy prime minister also commended students sponsored by agencies like JPA, MARA, GLCs, and GLICs for maintaining a positive image abroad. He stressed that social integration and cultural awareness are crucial in shaping competitive graduates ready to contribute to Malaysia's development. Addressing career prospects, Ahmad Zahid acknowledged that salaries in Malaysia may be lower than in countries like New Zealand but urged students in critical fields such as engineering, law, and accounting to return home. 'East or west, home is best,' he remarked. To support the Malaysian diaspora, Ahmad Zahid announced a NZ$100,000 (RM251,000) allocation to Rumah Malaysia for National Day celebrations. - Bernama
Barnama
3 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysian Students Abroad Should Foster Cross-cultural Understanding
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi mingles with guests at the Meet and Greet Session with the Diaspora held today as part of his official visit here. Also present is Malaysian High Commissioner to New Zealand Mazita Marzuki (fifth, right). From Ahmad Erwan Othman WELLINGTON, July 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysian students abroad have been reminded not to focus solely on academics, but also to engage with the local communities to foster cross-cultural understanding. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stressed that the involvement in local communities and understanding their cultures are vital for nurturing well-rounded and reputable graduates. 'Don't just learn from inside the lecture rooms, tutorials, or professors' offices. 'We should also introduce ourselves to the local communities and learn their cultures, especially the Maori culture here, which is rich with historical values and a spirit of resilience,' he said during a gathering with over 250 Malaysian students and residents in New Zealand, here. Also present were Malaysia's High Commissioner to New Zealand Mazita Marzuki, alongside official delegates and senior Malaysian government officers. In his remarks, Ahmad Zahid also expressed his admiration for the Maori community's strong identity and spirit, highlighting their success in preserving cultural heritage while managing community economic assets through their trust agencies since the 19th century. 'I would like to congratulate the Maori leaders and community here. We need to learn from their spirit and strength in fighting for their rights and adapt that to the Malaysian context, especially in empowering the Orang Asli communities,' he said. The deputy prime minister also praised the achievements and positive image upheld by students sponsored by various agencies, including the Public Service Department (JPA), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), government-linked companies (GLCs), and government-linked investment companies (GLICs).
Free Malaysia Today
12-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Decision to keep 42-hour workweek will boost morale, says nurses' union
JPA's decision reflects the government's concern for the welfare of civil servants in the healthcare sector, said the Malayan Nurses Union. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The government's decision to maintain a 42-hour workweek for shift-based healthcare workers is expected to boost their morale and motivation to continue delivering the best service to the public, says the Malayan Nurses Union. Union president Saaidah Athman said the move was a reflection of the government's concern for the welfare of healthcare civil servants. 'On behalf of all MNU members, I extend our heartfelt thanks to the prime minister, chief secretary to the government, the public services department director-general, and the health minister for this decision,' she told Bernama. Looking ahead, she urged the government to review the salary and allowance structure for healthcare workers and consider creating more critical posts to strengthen the national healthcare system. JPA announced yesterday that the government would scrap the 45-hour workweek for more than 82,000 healthcare workers, a move which was set to take effect on Aug 1. It said the exemption was made after taking into account concerns raised by healthcare workers regarding the implementation of the 45-hour workweek under the public service remuneration system (SSPA). The exemption covers 82,637 frontline personnel, including nurses, community nurses, emergency department medical officers, assistant medical officers and healthcare assistants. The MNU had previously protested against the additional hours, stating that ward nurses were already under significant pressure working 42 hours a week.
Free Malaysia Today
12-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
45-hour work week for healthcare workers scrapped
Nurses, community nurses, medical officers in the emergency department, assistant medical officers and medical attendants will continue to have a 42-hour work week. PETALING JAYA : The government has decided to scrap the 45-hour work week for more than 82,000 healthcare workers, which had been scheduled to be implemented on Aug 1, after a two-month extension. The public services department (JPA) said it took note of the concerns raised by healthcare workers over the implementation of the 45-hour work week under the public service remuneration system (SSPA). 'After thoroughly reviewing the operational needs and the nature of critical tasks carried out by healthcare workers, the government recognises that such responsibilities demand extraordinary physical, mental and emotional preparedness. 'In line with this, the government has agreed to exempt five critical services under the health ministry from shift work requirements, and instead set their working hours at 42 hours per week,' it said in a statement. The exemption applies to nurses, community nurses, medical officers in the emergency department, assistant medical officers and medical attendants. JPA initially approved a period of three months from Dec 1 last year for hospitals to prepare for the implementation of the 45-hour work week. The health ministry subsequently requested and received approval for an extension from March 1 to May 31. The implementation was later extended again to June 1 before being delayed once more to Aug 1. The Malayan Nurses Union had voiced strong protest against the additional hours, saying ward nurses were already under pressure working 42 hours a week.
