–  Senator S.Ramakrishnan, March 20, 2012.

The prime minister announced that top 100 Indian students with 1st class honors will get to do post graduate studies with local universities.  Well Mr. PM, why only top 100 can do their post graduate studies with local universities? Any Indian or Malaysian with 1st class honors should be given the opportunities to do their post graduate degree. Mr. PM,  why not send the top 100 Indian students to at least one of the top 100 universities to do their post graduate studies and offer important positions when they return so that they can be actively involved in nation building. But on the other hand, if an Indian student can get 1st class honors, he or she will be offered more post graduate opportunities by MNCs or Singapore government. They don’t discriminate like your BN government.

For the information of our Prime Minister, I would like to highlight the plight of Malaysian Indian medical students in Indonesia. Many Indians along with Malay students are studying for medicine in universities in Sumatra and Bandung. As we all know many of the Indians are from poor economic background. Quiet a number of students pay their upfront fees payment and enter the universities. After that their parents apply for loans all over to pay the balance. Some manage to get but there are also some don’t get the support anywhere. I was told by the Malaysian students’ association committee members whom I met during my recent visit to Indonesia that every year 5/6 Indian students dropped after year 3 or 4 due to non-payment of fees. All the payments made for the first few years wasted. There are students doing part time work in Indonesia for living expenses. Overseas students are not eligible for PTPTN. Some of these students are disgruntled because of the financial predicament. Mr. PM, would you please look into financial support for overseas medical students?

There is one student struggling all the way to pay college fees, but now has reached year 6. He may not be able to finish his medical studies because he owes the Bandung University about RM40000. His father passed away due to depression and worries while looking for loan for his son. Poor Indian parents go through hell to see that their children get proper education. They don’t have any one place to turn to. Can you, Mr. PM, resolve this issue of loan or scholarship that haunts the poor Indians year in year out when SPM and STPM results are announced?  How can the Indians support you when your government openly discriminate them?

Every year many top Indian students are denied PSD scholarships. It’s only after March 2008 election results that the PM without UMNO’s support going to Indians to offering election goodies. Indian community is not overwhelmed by one off offers but looking for inclusion in policies. Indian students’ intake in local university is only 2.6% last year. In terms of basic rights Malaysian Indians are regressing every year. Mr. PM, please improve our fundamental rights and needs before Indian community walk with you.