Stick to the principle of fairness

By Soong Phui Jee

It was reported that the Cabinet might consider reducing the overseas scholarships for Sijil Penilaian Malaysia (SPM) students.

Students who score well in the SPM examination might have only be awarded the Public Service Department (PSD) overseas scholarships after they have completed a pre-university course and admitted by one of the world's top 50 universities, such as the eight private institutions of higher education of the US Ivy League, the Oxford University and the eight leading universities in the United Kingdom.

The reports have again triggered a debate as the new rules of the game seem to be irrelevant to perfection, transparency and fairness. The only advantage is, it seems to have made things easier for the PSD.

Another debatable issue is, what is the best timing to award the scholarships?

We always think of neighbouring Singapore when we talk about scholarships.

Since the early 1970s, Singapore has been offering the Asean Scholarships to outstanding Malaysian Form Five graduates. Later, they also started to offer the scholarships to primary students.

About a decade ago, the leading Chinese High School and the Nanyang Girl's High school of Singapore have joined efforts to attract potential talents of Malaysia. They have conducted joint enrollment interviews here and successful candidates will be awarded scholarships offered by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Singapore.

How many of our talents have been attracted by Singapore over all these years? And how many of them have actually returned to serve their motherland?

In fact, even PSD scholarship winners might not return to serve the country as stated in the contract. It is indeed a brutal reality. However, how could we give up the programme of sponsoring outstanding students to study abroad just because of the little setback? From a positive point of view, how could we have returned talents in the future if we do not send them abroad today?

Instead of sighing, why don't we ask ourselves whether we can come out with a set of more attractive conditions and create a better environment to attract them? If even the scholarship system to cultivate talents is confusing, chaotic and disappointing, how could we expect them to return and contribute to their motherland?

We must admit that there are inevitable conflicts of interest among different people, communities and interest groups. A system, no matter how good it is, will not be functioning well if everyone accepts only interests completely biased in favour of them and refuses to compromise and tolerate.

It is indeed very difficult to achieve a completely fair system, but a fairer and more reasonable system is always the public's demand.

Therefore, no matter how the PSD scholarship system is amended, it must always stick to the most fundamental principles of fairness and reasonableness, or the chaos and controversy will go on forever!