Recently the recalibrated Budget 2016 presented by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Jan 28, 2016, has resolved matters relating to the issue of the Public Services Department (JPA) scholarship. Here are some of the matters which were touched on:

National Scholarship Programme for the 20 best SPM students to study at top universities around the world;
Special Programme for 200 engineering students to Japan, South Korea, Germany and France;
Continuation of Graduate Bursary Programme to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in public universities and institutions of higher learning (IPTS) in the country; and
New intake of 8,000 students will be given scholarships to pursue studies prescribed in the National First Degree.

But a few weeks after the news of the entry of the 1.5 million labour force from Bangladesh to Malaysia was announced, the government has announced that sponsorship or scholarships may be changed to loans.

All new JPA sponsorships began in 2016 are in the form of a loan with a variable mechanism of the loan agreement as follows:

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a) Loan can be converted into scholarships and are exempted from repayment if graduates serve in the public service;

b) Graduates are required to repay 50 percent of the loan amount if choose to work with government-linked companies (GLC); and

c) Graduates are required to repay the entire loan amount if they choose not to serve in the civil service or GLCs.

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This action makes it quite troublesome and difficult for graduates to get a job and this is a very unjust action, and reflects the failure of the Barisan Nasional government in administering the country for the welfare of the people.

The government has agreed with New Model Sponsorship of the Public Services Department (JPA) as follows:

JPA sponsorship programmes for 2016 are:

a. National Sponsorship Programme (PPN);

b. Special Engineering Programmes;

c. Master’s Programme In-Country; and

d. Postgraduate Bursary Programme in higher education institutions in the country.

If the government went ahead to change the scholarships into loans, it definitely burdens students who cannot afford to repay because of no permanent employment after graduation.

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Recently we read about the fate of three siblings in Miri who had to walk from home to school early in the morning due to financial problems. Their families are categorised as hardcore urban poor and are not able to give the children money for school expenses.

Imagine the story of three young children like this, what will happen to the fate of the people if payments for education costs are too high and are not affordable to the people who live in hardship.

In the past there was also a poor student aid scheme which was given free. But now everything requires money, and the price of goods has risen due to the 6 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST), so why should education scholarships be converted into loans and the people become victims?

Gov’t urged to review policy

PAS urges the government to review the policy in order to safeguard the welfare of outstanding students, especially from those who find it hard to get the best education.

In the circumstances, the people are squeezed by the high cost of living, many are unemployed and the future of top students is at risk. All these comes as a result of inefficient financial management until the country suffered heavy losses.

The welfare of the people should be given priority. Debt problems and the country's financial which is not managed efficiently would lead to the people continuing to live in misery.

The government should take the problems of the people and the brightest students seriously. They will actually become assets to the country if given the facilities and the best places for them to build a good life for themselves and also for the country’s future.

JOFRI JARAIEE is Sarawak PAS commissioner-cum-Miri PAS chief.