Najib proposes "Merit-based" scholarship

PM: National Scholarship based totally on merit 2010 onwards

BERNAMA

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PUTRAJAYA, SAT:

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will create a special scholarship called Biasiswa Nasional (National Scholarship) under the Public Service Department (JPA) next year based totally on merit.

He said the scholarships would be given to the best qualified students irrespective of race, in line with the Education Ministry's decision to review the award of government scholarships.

"Only the best will be get the scholarships. It is the government wish to place people first. We must consider the people's interest," he said at an MCA dinner at Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here tonight.

Present include his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and MCA leaders.

The dinner organized by MCA and Chinese Associations was in conjunction with Najib's appointment as the sixth Prime Minister.


Najib said the national scholarship was not introduced this year as the Education Ministry had limited the subjects for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.

"The government will announce it next year, not this year as Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had announced the ten subject limit for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia candidates."

He said Muhyiddin had been mandated to review the national education system as human capital was the catalyst for economic development.

"The new economic model introduced placed human capital development as the main criteria for the creation of higher revenue."

On another note, Najib said RM90mil had been approved under the first stimulus package for building 90 national type Chinese schools (SJKC) while another RM50mil was for repair works.

"The development and repair of SJKC show the government confidence in the schools. The government spends RM1.8bil annually, a large amount on SJKC teachers.

"Don't forget that the Barisan Nasional (BN) had contributed to the welfare of Chinese in the country.

"I also told Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew who was here recently that Malaysia has SJKC but Singapore did not have one," he said to loud applause from guests.

Najib also said the government was in the process of recognizing several universities in China as both countries have much to gain in future.