Search

Give scholarships to Malaysians first, says Patriots

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email

KUCHING: Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) has urged Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to provide scholarships to Malaysians first before giving them to foreigners.

Its chairman Datuk John Lau Pang Heng said this in response to the recent announcement by the prime minister that 12 local universities will provide scholarships to Palestinian students to do their bachelor, masters, and doctorate degrees in Malaysia.

“I would like to congratulate Dr Mahathir for reaching out to help the needy.  On an international perceptive it is an excellent mode to build better relationships with other countries.

“However, I would like to express deep concerns that many Malaysian students who attended universities achieved outstanding results through private financing.

“Some borrowed money from the banks, some of the students’ parents mortgaged their houses and some even borrowed money from loan sharks to enable their children to further their studies in universities. Many parents ran into financial difficulties after taking loans to finance their children.

“Let us look into our own home in Sarawak. How many of our Sarawakian students are granted scholarships to do their tertiary education? Many post-graduate students used their own money to finance their research studies,” he pointed out.

He said most of the student’s applications for sponsorship were not even acknowledged let alone accepted.

“These research studies are beneficial to the country. And the reply given for was there was lack of funding.

“We do understand that the country is facing tough financial constraints but we ask Dr Mahathir to provide scholarships to Malaysians first,” he said.

Lau said it is the duty of the government to provide free education to all Malaysians.

“Education is the primary rights of every citizen. Countries close to home like Australia and New Zealand provide free education for their citizens and permanent residents.

“If the federal government is unable to do so, we urge it to return the rights on education to the Sarawak government and we hope our state will provide free education all the way up to the tertiary level for all Sarawakians,” he said.

He added Pakatan Harapan (PH) government must keep its promises in giving 20 per cent oil royalty back to Sarawak, so that it can finance the education.

Download from Apple Store or Play Store.