PSD Scholarships

Each year, at this time, we will hear the complaints from parents and students of their failure to secure a scholarship despite having excellent results. The Public Service Department (PSD) must be transparent and clear in the awarding of scholarships to Malaysians. The issue of deserving young Malaysians not getting scholarships to pursue a course in a university of their choice has been occuring for far too long. These include those who obtained 13 A1s and 14 A1s in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination who failed to get scholarships under the Foreign Degree Programme despite having secured places at foreign universities. The PSD should act firmly to ensure that the criteria used to select students for scholarships are consistent and strictly adhered to. There is absolutely no reason why a student who obtained excellent results and are among the top students in their respective states and the country should not be given scholarships to study overseas upon securing a place in a foreign university. Failure to honour these best brains in the country will only encourage them to work in other countries upon their graduation and this will put a damper on the government's efforts to encourage Malaysian professionals and experts to work in the country.
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Perak Impasse

There is an urgent need to settle the political impasse in Perak to that normalcy can return to Perak. Allowing the uncertainty to continue will not work well for the state in particular and the country in general. This has and will continue to affect the administration of the state's affairs, including administrative matters pertaining to trade and investments such as the approval of permits and projects involving the state administration. At the end of the day, the people will suffer. In a democratic system like Malaysia's, there is definitely a defined role for the Constitutional Monarchy as well as the courts. Their roles are enshrined in the Constitution and therefore must be respected and accepted. Having said that, it is best to let the people decide on the government they want so that the government of the day can act confidently with the support of the people. We are a democratic society and the people should be allowed to decide on who they want to lead in the state.
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Influenza A H1N1

Malaysians should not panic following the Health Ministry's announcement of the country's first two confirmed cases of Influenza A H1N1 victims. Although they should take all the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families, they must also be confident of the government's efforts to contain the outbreak. The government has taken, and will continue to take all the necessary measures to stop the spread of the disease in the country and will remain vigilant.
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