Is still happening, 14 years after I sat for STPM…
Most of us would have expected it to happen again. It happened.
When I was doing my STPM, I was already been told that it was tough to get a place to do law in a local university. I did not get flying colors in my STPM. In fact before the result was released, I already got myself admitted to a local college, heard of Koberium College, PJ (quite near PJ Old Town) for a University of London External Programme.? It was at this college, I met my good friend, Jick Liang, a pretty and smart girl. A Hainanese too.
My mum collected my STPM result and I called her at a fire station, located just beside the college. Then, my friends were busy filling up application forms to get a place in university. Some were trying their luck and submitted application to universities in Singapore too.
I did not want to miss out too. I bought the forms, submitted to both local and Singapore’s universities.
I was offered Arts in UM. At the same time, I was offered a course not of my choice in NUS too. A girl friend of mine was offered a course not of her choice in UM too. If I am not wrong, she wanted to do accounting. In fact, she was a prefect, a hardworking and smart student.
Both of us decided to join the orientation week and try to meet some seniors to seek advice to change our course. She failed in her appeal. She left and went to Canada to do her studies. Now, she is married and doing so well in Hongkong. This is brain drain.
I remembered that I went to the admission office and met a chinese lady . I asked her if there was any chance that I could change the offered course to law. This was the reply I got from her, “you should consider youself lucky to be offered a place here”. Upon hearing the reply, my tears dropped. I cried in front of her.
We were asked to queue according to our faculty. I was so jealous of those who were standing in the line of law faculty. I asked one of the Malay girl what was her result. She told me 59. I was shocked!
It is sad to see that it is still happening today, after 14 years despite the government is implementing “meritrocacy system”.
I have raised this issue many times in Parliament but the BN government is so selfish and protective.
To STPM students who failed in getting a course of your choice or a place in the local university, I can understand your feelings. You studied so hard, just to hope to get a place to do a course of your interest. Everyone of us have an ambition. You may be trying hard to find answers as to why you have failed to get a place. You may do so. You may even cry. I did. I went through it.
However, remember do not blame yourself. You are not at fault. It is the system. The unfair, discriminatory, non- transparent policy and system. The BN politicians are the culprit.
You should not give up. Try to look for alternatives eventhough the date line is closed. Try to send emails to foreign universities, including our neighbouring countries and appeal for late admission and also, loan assistance. Perhaps, you should also consider of making visits too.
I did not give up. I was admitted to IIUM to do law.
One of the reason why I decided to contest in the 1999 election was because of this unfair and discriminatory policy to enter into public university. I wanted to correct it.
When I was in there, I thought none knew what was happening except myself because I went through it personally.
Later I realised, I was so naive. BN are the makers.
I will continue to raise this issue. I will not give up. However, I do hope you will join me after you have completed your degree! For future generations and national interest!
hey there.
totally agree with your words up there.
malaysia will never improve unless they change the whole stinky management into a better ones, which is MUCH MORE DEMOCRATIC.
We’ll wait and see for the next 20 years, I ensure you that u will have the chance to look at indonesia. Discriminations, Jealousy and things like that will happen in the future Malaysia.
Cheers.
by the way,
i am from kelantan.
Comment by kenny — July 4, 2006 @ 1:06 am
We are all very glad that you made it to Dewan Rakyat. Keep on doing your best!
Comment by Educator — July 4, 2006 @ 5:36 pm
I definitely agree with you, because I have gone thru the pain too. It’s a “NO BRAINER” jobs that kill the country. The more they protect the more they will loose.
I had given hopes up on our government and the people manage the country. They are irresponsible and making fool on themselves. Fortunately till today they still preserve it and inviting for the unfortunates to come.
I had told myself work hard to get out from the country, gain a degree and stay away from these bunch of crooks. Even our heart still with the country, but it’s painful to see this bunch of crooks ruining our country.
What can I do….?
Let it be lah….!
Comment by Budak — July 12, 2006 @ 3:37 pm
The reason for the dismal state of affairs in this country is with the BN political system that have been in existance for decades.
At the root of the problem is the component parties that make up the BN. As we all know, the top two posts of president & his deputy are not up for contesting.
This ended up with the incumbent and his assistant being offered a minister and perhaps deputy minister post respectively. That’s why dumbs dumbs are in such powerful positions. There is nothing the PM can do about it. His power is only limited to his own party.
That’s why we have incumbents who over-stayed their welcome and are stupid enough not to know it!
With the endless problems created by the govt, the DAP should have no lack of ammunition in its armoury. Just keep harping on them to remind the BN if its shortcoming; they are vulnerable to it.
They are now worried that the voters in EM are deserting them because of the perennial bad performance; that’s the only language they will understand.
Comment by Winston — July 17, 2006 @ 11:35 pm
I experienced “heartbreak” for the JPA scholarship. A schoolmate of mine who obtained lesser grades and was less involved in co-curricular activities obtained a scholarship to do law in London. By coincidence, he is a bumiputera (not malay). I was given nothing. Not even a reason for the rejection. Thank God my uncle and other relatives supported me. Parents re-financed the house. I’ve now graduated with a law degree from UK thanks to their efforts. As for that friend of mine, he did go to London to pursue law. But not with the JPA scholarship awarded to him. He decided to turn it down. ‘Cos he said his father can support him financially (which his father did).
Comment by PabloPabla — July 19, 2006 @ 2:58 pm
In the long run, this questionable policy will hinder Malaysia in all aspects. Many of my Malaysian classmates in a U.S. university and I elected to remain in the States to launch our career in various fields. Many of them are talented with visions, characters that could change the course of an organization, a community, or, who knows, even a small nation such as Malaysia. However, because there wasn’t a place for us, our family had to ship us to the U.S. along with their hard-earned savings.
The slow-paced economy might have prevented more losses in educated Malaysians to foreign countries. Still, if we do not offer the best opportunities and challenges to the coming generations, we will just hold ourselves back from joining the others in reaching greater height.
Comment by KCL — July 22, 2006 @ 11:54 pm
There is no wills to change.The high ups know what the problems are but being politicians,they have no courage to face the reality.In the end,it is still protection for certain race-the clutch will forever be there and they will pepertually complaining why others are better than them.They just expect others to give everything to them on a silver platter.Loook at advance races ,they went through thousand years of hard work and evolution-always willing to change for the better.People work for it not depending on their so-called historical special rights
Comment by Jiang10 — August 10, 2006 @ 6:47 am
Oh I wanted to be an accountant and right from 1989 when I finished my SPM (all As in my 9 subjects) I know that I CANNOT go for local uni.
I wanted to do an articleship with a big 6 and I got a bigger opposition from my dad so I went to TARC (before this fXXXing crime wave) and emerged with ACCA qualifications within 3 years with some tasty results.
I am not a very rich or successful professional but I am living comfortably now. I have worked short term in Singapore and knew that I could live with their standards. I now have an offer to go to work overseas.
Local universities are over-rated. I proved to myself that I don’t need the whole sad package trying to enrol and progress in a local uni.
For those who cried for their failed applications, I feel for you because the avenue of affordable education to deserving students are denied but we must have to find our own way, do our own thing and be proud of our independence and grit. We do not need a tongkat, we can walk on our own feet. If they break my legs, I will crawl to my destiny, no one can take that away from me.
Comment by lee wee tak — August 17, 2006 @ 8:00 am
Bravo to all of you. You have taken on the challenges and gone pass the obstacles implemented by our government and its policies.
However lets just not ignore but make our stand known. We are Malaysians and we will continue to be so till our dying days, same as our generations to come. We need to make sure we provide them an environment to thrive and grow.
Lastly please support Mr.Lee Mok Kwai’s father on 17th August, 2006 (Thursday) at Hotel Excelsior Ipoh at 7.30 pm. attend in large numbers to show support for the family and displeasure with the lack of “interest” by the government. GO FOR IT.
Comment by SM — August 17, 2006 @ 1:24 pm
My younger sister is the only person in our family of 4 siblings to have gone to a local university. Her STPM results are good and she decided to do a course of her choice in a local university of her choice. But instead they sent her to Sabah and doing a course that she almost quit at the end of her first year of her study when she is on her semester break after exams. She said it’s too tough for her to force herself to study a field of not of her interest. However, my mom persuaded her to carry on and finish her degree. She did, and she graduated with a Second Class Upper Honours degree and I’m proud of her as her brother. Since her graduation, she is now working in the field that has no relevant to her course. Looking back, I knew it is the existing education system that is so one-sided to certain races. With the full support of the government, it seems that this predicament is not going to end. Screw the New Economic Policy!!! Screw the politicians!!! Screw the governemnt!!!
Comment by Jim — September 11, 2006 @ 5:53 am
thank you for all the great jobs you and DAP have done for us. Please do not give up!!
Comment by denis — April 10, 2007 @ 4:13 am
hello YB……
can i have your advice regarding law and political science???
do you mind to give me your email address???
Comment by form6leaver — May 11, 2007 @ 2:08 am
Hi, Po Kuan. I am Justin. I am a new blogger here. Whatever you wrote in your article about the injustice in our country’s education system, i could understand it as i am one of the victim of the system. I have lost total hope in this country. Thank god we still have people like you to fight for us. To me, many things which are happening in the country are beyond our power. You shall read my blog to understand what i mean here if you have the time. I am from Kampar, Perak. It is just a stone’s throw from Batu Gajah. We can be blog friends. Reply my comments if you are kind enough to comment.
Comment by Justin Tan — September 20, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
Dont let these stupid BN policies deter you from studying.
Find other means ie private colleges and study as much and as high as you can. Non-Bumis Boleh.
Comment by RK — October 26, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
maybe it was destined for most of us to choose this path.it is hard and it is challenging.i wish to study law as well, however i am in biology class.dun know anything in order to step into the right way….just drowned in self-pity and messy….sometimes even think of let everything go….looks like lost everything already…
Comment by paigedark — May 23, 2008 @ 4:25 pm