Phasing out overseas PSD scholarship: MIC disagrees

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president S Samy Vellu has urged the government to reconsider the decision to phase out the awarding of Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships for overseas degree programmes.

Such an action, he said, will be unfair and unjust to students from poor families.

Apart from this, Samy Vellu also called on the government to allocate additional scholarships for non-bumiputeras, especially Indian students under the PSD scholarship overseas degree programme for this year.

“These bright students, especially from poor families will be denied of their dreams to pursue their studies at internationally-recognised universities worldwide.

“While I understand the financial constraints faced by the government, but with the government now giving priority to human capital development, it will only reverse the policy,” he said.

The MIC president was responding to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz who said that the government will phase out the 1,200 PSD scholarships for the ovearseas degree programme beginning next year.

Hundreds of complaints received

Samy Vellu said MIC has received hundreds of complaints from parents and students who lost their appeal for the PSD scholarship for the overseas degree programme.

“I hope the government will take into consideration the hardship being faced by the students and their families. The Indian community is unhappy with the present situation,” he added

If the situation is allowed to continue, Samy Vellu warned that it will only cost Barisan Nasional precious votes.

“I am confident that the government will make a wise decision,” he added.