Plight of JPA medical scholars
Letters
by Frustrated JPA scholar
I am a medical student sponsored by JPA to study in Ireland about to complete my studies. I write to you after reading your article on the rot of the Malaysian healthcare system. We JPA scholars here have been very frustrated with the JPA enforcing us to immediately return to the country upon graduation, barring us from continuing training as interns (equivalent of houseman) in the countries where we graduated from This would mean we cannot obtain the sufficient exposure that would make our training complete, and would off course, mean a waste of taxpayers money as there would have been no difference with studying locally.
JPA had announced recently that none of its medical scholars overseas will be allowed the opportunity to do further train overseas even at their own expanses, and are to return ASAP upon graduation. No scholar would be allowed to stay on regardless of the training posts they obtain upon graduation. To add to the spice of JPA’s foolishness, it seems that JPA gives priority to romantic relationships over the academic achievements of its scholars by giving exception to remain overseas to those who are married to a fellow JPA/MARA sponsored student who are still commencing studies in the foreign country concerned.
Till today, I have yet to comprehend the narrow minded policies set by the JPA. JPA seems to fail to understand that by allowing its scholars to stay on for postgraduate training, many will be offered positions in world-renowned healthcare institutions. The exposure and experience gained through these positions would be an invaluable asset to the country and the rakyat in the future. Unfortunately, JPA seems to be adamant in having fresh graduate doctors returning to receive Malaysian medical training, instead of allowing these fresh grads to further train themselves and one day return as first world specialists who will reform and infuse new uptodate skills in Malaysian Healthcare a few years down the road. Also of importance is the availability of funding to do research work in these foreign teaching hospitals, which is significantly lacking in Malaysia. Would it not make Malaysia proud if Malaysian Doctors were publishing their research work in heavy weight journals in the medical world. Upon return, these foreign trained doctors will then be able to start up a trend of research-based medicine, to the benefit of the ranking of Malaysian universities who lose out because of lack in research.
This immediate return policy has also stunted the motivation of many JPA scholars. Housemanship placements in Malaysia show disregard to academic achievements. It is random where one is sent to at best, and at its worst influenced by racism and cronism. This off course does not help in encouraging JPA scholars to strive to improve themselves. Knowing the fact that additional experience, eg opitional research and academic grades do not count later on, there are some who have lost motivation, and many who have been apprehensive in taking further steps to improve themselves due to the fear that the JPAs immediate return policy might put all their effort into waste by abruptly discontinuing their work.
Starting year 2008, there will be at least 2000 Malaysian fresh medical graduates from the various public and private universities sprouting throughout the country, not to forget graduates returning from Russia, Indonesia, India and Ukraine. This number is likely to rise over the coming years. Will MOH be able to cope with the demand for training posts? Will the ministry of health be able to provide enough housemenship positions, and if yes, will these posts provide high quality training, as the saying goes ‘too many cooks spoil the soup’? In the long term, will the ministry of health be able to provide enough specialist opportunities, considering its eagerness to do away with MRCP and only recognize the local masters program? My fear is that there will be a bottleneck down the pipeline, and many competent doctors will be failed by JPA and the ministry of health’s poor planning. Henceforth, to lessen the burden on the Malaysian Healthcare system, it would only be simple common sense to allow those graduating from foreign universities who are offered good opportunities to continue with their post graduate training overseas without having to return immediately, as it is the easiest way to gain access to train in these countries.
During one of the talks given by JPA officials who visited Ireland, a student raised a question on the rationale of JPAs ‘immediate return policies’. The officer in charge went in a rage and accused the people who wanted to stay as ‘just wanting to earn money’. I could not believe the narrow mindedness behind these words. For one, what is wrong with earning money? Also, many JPA scholars are top achievers, and view further career advancement as the driving force behind their intention to remain and continue training overseas. The plight of these JPA scholars has fallen on deaf ears of the JPA authorities. Many of JPA’s policy makers are not doctors themselves. How are they to understand the need of good training even at a post graduate level.
Finally, I would like to stress that all JPA scholars love their country, and would love to return to serve. However to my view, it would be better to return after adequate exposure to first world healthcare, as this would bring the most benefit to the rakyat. I am also fully aware that a contract is a contract, (despite the fact JPA changed the contract one-sidedly half way through our training from a penalty of RM160,000 to approximately a million ringgit) without prior warning), and if JPA remains adamant to prevent its scholars to further develop their skills overseas, the only thing we can do is to return as housemen. The authorities in JPA, however, should understand that to attract talent in the public service, the more effective methods would be by improving pay, ensuring fairness by meritocracy and adequate training opportunities,. By using brute force, many may return, but only with the intention of leaving as soon as the bond imposed is over.
Today at 17: 07.48 (6 hours ago)
Just consider that you are good and lucky to get a JPA scholarship.
Why grumble now? Before you go, I believe that you have read and signed the scholarship agreement.
If you think the terms and conditions are not favourable then, then do not go. It is too late……..
Today at 17: 13.18 (5 hours ago)
You have been away for too long doing your studies. In the meantime, alot of “Little Napoleons” have sprung up according to the PM.
These “little ones” can be quite mischievious, making alot of decisions that do not make sense according to their whims and fancies and “angin” at the appropriate times.
Even “big Napoleons” like Ministers have also made disparaging remarks like “why so many Indians here” and the like so this “Napoleon syndrome” can be found in all levels of the hierarchy.
But good news for you!!!!
There was a massive tsunami on 8th March which seems to have some effect on this syndrome. This disease might be in check for the moment so perhaps you and your colleaques might wish to retry your luck with the JPA. Hopefully, these Napoleons might be gone and the Duke of Wellington’s fellows might be in charge.
I sympathise with you but I hope the new administration fellows with supposedly big ears will finally hear you.
Otherwise you could go AWOL like the many who have done so before you. Funny, the Napoleon fellows can’t seem to locate them even after one or two generations, to get them to repay their loans. So there you are.
Today at 17: 20.55 (5 hours ago)
Just come back and serve the nation. Your original contract was for the undergraduate studies. Only in very special circumstances can your appeal be allowed for further work or studies eg. you are into some very special research that can only be done there.
Be thankful that the nation has given you a chance to study abroad. Malaysia needs you.
Today at 17: 26.11 (5 hours ago)
I think the gomen should by all means encourage these young talented people to stay on in their repective places of academic study to gain world class practical training before requiring them to return home to serve. That way they can serve better.
To deny them invaluable practical training is not only a waste of tax payers money, it is utter selfishness & shortsightedness!
When people know you truly love & care about the people, they will sacrifice and come back to serve. When people know that you discriminate people, even those that are at home will try to find ways to get out of the country!
Today at 17: 35.38 (5 hours ago)
Just come backlah!. We provide you our money to study undergraduate course onlylah! Specialist training can be done in Malaysia too. I can assure you training in Malaysia is not too badlah. We need doctors now urgently (from Malaysia and from foreign countries). Don’t be so selfish. We don’t mind if you are self-sponsored.
Today at 17: 37.20 (5 hours ago)
First off, you are one of the lucky few who have got a JPA Scholarship to study overseas & a Medical Scholarship to boot!
Secondly, I have heard (I’m sorry if I’m wrong) that many of those who stay on to do their Housemanship & then Postgraduate or even get appointments to work Overseas, never come back (& they don’t reimburse the JPA for breaking their bond).
Come back & serve your country & the people (us Tax Payers) who have paid for your studies.
After you serve your “bond period”, you can always do your postgraduate studies Overseas or otherwise.
Today at 17: 50.00 (5 hours ago)
For your information MRCP,FRCS holders in UK are just registrar only and not specialist. Only in Malaysia they are call specialists. In UK these doctors have to undergo few years of training before being considered true specialists
Today at 17: 53.43 (5 hours ago)
To all JPA medical scholars
Just be grateful that you are getting a British medical degree at taxpayers’ expense. Most of you spend 5 years studying and we have to pay for your expenses for those five years.
Both my friend’s 2 children are holding JPA scholars and are studying in the U.K. and each of those scholarships are worth in excess of RM1 million (fees, expenses, allowances, etc.). We are spending more than a million bucks to train each of them and here you are complaining about the Govt. being unfair. Why don’t you grow up!! We Malaysians don’t owe you anything! JUST COME BACK AND SERVE THE NATION!
Today at 17: 56.20 (5 hours ago)
Cont….
Sorry link was broken.
Another friend of mine had a child who applied for a STUDY LOAN, not a scholarship, of only RM10K but was rejected on technical grounds. You JPA scholars wanna talk about fairness????
Just be grateful, we taxpayers don’t owe you anything!!
Today at 17: 59.08 (5 hours ago)
You should return to serve the country as per requirement in the scholarship agreement.
There are many more brighter students here but not fortunate enough to get the scholarship to study, not even locally.
So why you sulk? Post graduate “first world training” mentioned is just a lame excuse.
You accept the scholarship, you also accept the social responsibilities to the country, to the tax payers here and to the poor people here who desperately need the basic medical and health care.
If you are high achiever and full of aspiration, the more you should understand the spirit of the scholarship award, to serve the nation to the best of your ability.
You go to any government hospital or clinic in the country, you see the long queues, why? Not enough medical personnel to attend to the poor and needy patients!
Don’t you have the heart for them? Instead you are sulking about the “first world” postgraduate training?
There many bright and outstanding specialists trained here locally, they are as good, if not better than those trained in the so-called by you, “first world” training.
It is time for you to show your gratitude and patriotism through deeds and not words. No sulking and be grateful for what you enjoy now, which many here cannot even dream of!!
Today at 18: 04.00 (5 hours ago)
Cont…
For the information of all, both my friend’s 2 children have signed 10 year bonds to serve the Govt. upon the completion of their studies. However, there is a release clause. They only have to pay back the Govt. 10% of what the Govt. spend on them to train them. YES, only 10%. They only have to pay back the Govt. RM100K-odd to be released from the bonds and they can do their own thing.
You still wanna talk about fairness (or unfairness)??
Today at 18: 10.47 (5 hours ago)
You had a scholarship from the Govt, think of the others who had missed out and had to fork out their own money for it. Did they get any break ? I know of some that had to work hard while studying hard there and the stress of trying to survive and pass their subjects. Just like the company that send you expensive training, they would like to see some return for their money.
It is not a matter of loyalty but rather one of a commercial decision. The money belongs to the Malaysian tax payers, Malaysia do not have enough doctors and we are importing doctors!!! If the system is failing you, more reason to change the system and make noise. In view of your career, well, I hate to put it to you but the cold reality is that your service as a doctor comes before your career. Serve your time as a way to pay back the tax payers for what we have given you, after that, you can decided where your career will go.
Today at 18: 59.03 (4 hours ago)
This is utterly rubbish and selfish attitude. You took the tax payer money to study oversea and now you refuse to come back because you want to so called continue your postgraduate study. Just to remind you that, without the scholarship you are NOBODY and no chance to study medicine. You should be very grateful that you are given a opportunity to pursue your dream to become a doctor. You should honour your contract by coming back to serve your master who are the tax payers before even think of consider to develop your career to the next level. It is because of the shameless people like you who robbed the tax payer money by giving all these rubbish reason to stay back in UK so that you can earn you British Pound. You selfish idiot who had nothing to start off is given a opportunity to study a job (when many others were denied) and guaranteed a job with 6k salary when you are back have the gut trying to bargain so that you can stay back to make more money on the expense of tax payer money. I am really ashamed that you are a Malaysian. The JPA for once did the right thing by changing the fine to 1 million.
Today at 19: 04.39 (4 hours ago)
I definitely do NOT empathise with the writer. Come on, you are given a chance to study overseas at taxpayers account. As soon as you graduate, KINDLY COME HOME TO SERVE IN WHATEVER CAPACITY FITS YOU. We are very short of doctors.
I am sure that when you accept the scholarship, you are aware of the conditions. If you want to hang on in Ireland, you should have gone on your parents’ scholarship.
Do not be selfish. STOP COMPLAINING AND TAKE THE FIRST PLANE BACK TO SERVE THE POOR HERE IF YOU ARE THAT SINCERE!!!
Today at 19: 31.32 (3 hours ago)
Mr Lim,
We should not champion this type of scholars. After all there are so many who are in need of money just to get their first degree. This guy is lucky enough to get a JPA scholarship to study overseas.
HE IS DEFINITELY SELFISH TO HANG ON OVERSEAS. ASK HIM TO COME HOME TO START SERVING!!! THE POOR HERE NEED MEDICAL SERVICE URGENTLY.
I WOULD DEFINITELY ASK HIM TO SHUT UP !!!
Today at 19: 32.07 (3 hours ago)
YES. CONVEY OUR OPINION TO JPA AND GET THEM HOME !!!
Today at 19: 36.50 (3 hours ago)
“Finally, I would like to stress that all JPA scholars love their country, and would love to return to serve”!
You make me laugh. How many of those om JPA scholarship to do specialist course continue to servin with the government upon completing the contract? The moment they have satisfy the condition, off they go to the private. Hey, most of them love $$$ sign more than the country.
I know of a few doctors who simply do not even want to serve in Sabah and Sarawak inspite of their scholarship. So MUCH FOR THEIR CARE OF THE POOR eh!!!
Today at 20: 06.10 (3 hours ago)
Im a local JPA scholar final year medical student
please dont grumble too much lah, u have been given the chance to study abroad for undergraduate study with the rakyat’s money is good enough…
every JPA scholar medical student abroad or local must start their compulsory years working for rakyat right after they graduated. we all have used up the rakyat’s money and later still grumble for more huh? wake up lah, its not ur money. just be respect and i think JPA treats all the same…
dontlah say that your undergraduate years of studying abroad does not giv u enough experience lah. what are u doing during your clinical years? playing around? medical situation here and abroad are far different from each other. if you intended to serve the rakyat, just come back and start working here lah. dont grumble too much…
im a final year local medical student, JPA scholar somemore and im very sure this guy here grumble too much. if not gaining experience abroad during his undergraduates is totally his fault!
Today at 20: 21.56 (2 hours ago)
No, I don’t think it’s the plight of the JPA medical scholars but the plight of the JPA instead. I’m in agreement with the views of many of the writers here who feel the medical scholars ought to come back to serve their housemanship.
Today at 20: 28.40 (2 hours ago)
I am sympathetic to the plight of Frustrated JPA Scholar above.
To JusticeWanted, yes, he (OR she) may have signed the contract and thus, he should adhere to the terms and return home if that was in the terms. But note! JPA made a drastic change to the bond-breaking terms mid-way for whatever reason. That’s not fair to Frustrated and other affected JPA scholars. You should be shouting for justice for Frustrated there.
To all of you who claim Frustrated is selfish for wanting to continue his internship in Ireland EVEN AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, your concern for shortage of doctors is commendable, but how shortsighted you are!
Malaysian scholars, even those under JPA scholarship, who are able to seek out their own oppportunities and resources to further improve themselves with further education and training should be given every encouragement to do so!
You sound like sour grapes the way you go on about how lucky Frustrated is to have a JPA scholarship and how selfish he is for not boarding the first plane home.
The JPA contract is of course a contract and so the scholars must return, but a postponement of their bond to serve in Malaysia to 3-4 years later, in exchange for an even better qualified and well exposed doctor is to Malaysia’s great advantage.
Furthermore, the root cause of the lack of doctors in Malaysia is not that these JPA medicine scholars are not returning home, but that our universities do not have the capacity to train enough qualified doctors quickly enough to cope with the demand. There is certainly no shortage in the number of qualified students wanting to study medicine.
Compound that with the fact that public healthcare has not proved monetarily rewarding enough for our young doctors to stay within the service once their housemanship is over. If we fix the corruption leaks in the government, we’d have more money to channel into improving public healthcare for our medical staff and for the public.
I say Frustrated has fair cause to be frustrated with the JPA. I applaud him for putting this issue out for public debate. I wish him all the very best in trying to improve himself in his medicine career and look forward to having him in our public service.
Today at 20: 29.18 (2 hours ago)
The fault lies with our idiotic govenment policies……..undergraduate studies do locally……save tax payer’s money for postgraduate studies, attachments, fellowships, etc…..the JPA and Education Ministry must reap what they sow. Do you see India, China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, US, France, etc sending students overseas for undergraduate studies????? …But as usual …tax payer’s will always end up paying for all these cock-ups…
Today at 20: 39.25 (2 hours ago)
Looks like “adriene” above is either a parent whose child has a JPA scholarship or is a JPA scholarship holder herself. I quote here what she(?) said:
“You sound like sour grapes the way you go on about how lucky Frustrated is to have a JPA scholarship…….”
Perhaps, you are old and retired and not paying any taxes. In that case, please refrain from commenting!
Today at 21: 09.10 (2 hours ago)
JPA scholarship itself is a joke and there is no surprise that we get this kind of joker scholar. Read and see whether you agree with this blogger, http://pilseung.blogspot.com/2008/02/jpa-scholarship.html
Today at 21: 13.35 (1 hour ago)
adriene, im a JPA scholar, a final year medical student studying in local university….
and im telling u that this guy’s reason is unreasonable at all…
the point of asking them to come back for houseman ship is to teach them about the reality of healthcare system over here lah…
medical situations here and abroad are of very much different…
1. they dont have dengue, malaria, tuberculosis etc
2. and theyve got alot of fund to do MRI or CT Scan for every pt that dont really need it…they should come back and learn how things working over here without MRI or CT Scan machine in Sabah or Sarawak rural areas
3. later in practice we do see these so called damn good oversea medical graduates being laughed out by staff nurses and hospital attendance for prescribing drugs that donot even exist here plus with doses unacceptable over here…
4. try sending them to Gua Musang for instance to educate the ppl over there on health awareness and im sure of none would understand what hes trying to deliver…
**Medical achievement is based upon ur medical experiences, not based on where u graduated, what level of quality of medical educated u had. If u intended to serve the rakyat, the taxpayers who pay ur scholar, come back home, go to Gua Musang, even rural Borneo, learn the medical reality over here. No MRI, no CT Scan, swimming in pools of infections, go and talk to our Orang Asli and give them some education….these are what medical is meant! You better shut your mouth and stop complaining.
Today at 21: 14.30 (1 hour ago)
“Starting year 2008, there will be at least 2000 Malaysian fresh medical graduates from the various public and private universities…Will MOH be able to cope with the demand for training posts?…Will the ministry of health be able to provide enough housemenship positions”
- Please come to East Malaysia, definitely can absorb you, don’t ya worry.
The taxpayers has spent at least half a million for your undergrad studies. Come back so that locally trained doctors who have been doing “charity work” WHILE PAYING TAXES TO FUND YOU can get their turn to go for further training. Don’t think of yourself and your career only. There are many doctors in M’sia who are also capable.
Malaysia unfortunately is not interested in getting super specialized doctors. Our BASIC medical care has still much to be desired.
I’m not being judgemental but there are many JPA scholars who stayed back in a foreign country to “pursue further training” never returned home. Take Singapore for instance.
If you paid with your own money to study medicine overseas, then fine. Do what you like.
Today at 21: 14.54 (1 hour ago)
adriene Says:
Today at 20: 28.40 (27 minutes ago)
I am sympathetic to the plight of Frustrated JPA Scholar above.
To JusticeWanted, yes, he (OR she) may have signed the contract and thus, he should adhere to the terms and return home if that was in the terms. But note! JPA made a drastic change to the bond-breaking terms mid-way for whatever reason. That’s not fair to Frustrated and other affected JPA scholars. You should be shouting for justice for Frustrated there.
============================
The country has spent more than a million on him and he is complaining about not improving himself. Has he thought of how he can serve the country instead? If every JPA scholars are like him, will it be very choatic for the JPA to keep track of them. Be contented and grateful that your initial plans of be a doctor is going to be fulfilled. Your plans might have changed but please fulfill your obligations to the nation.
Today at 21: 17.38 (1 hour ago)
With that state of mind, you are not fit to become a doctor, not to mention a specialist. You have fogotten the Hippocrates Oath. You are not compassionate at all and only want to become a super specialist. You’ll become a sick doctor. We, Malaysian regret to sponsor you. You must have sweet-talked the JPA to allow you to go oversea but actually you have other intentions.
Let me tell you, most of the sickness (> 80%)you encounter do not need specialist attention not to mention super specialist. Tax payers don’t wish you to become a super specialist at this moment. They want you to come back as soon as possible and will be very grateful to you if you can treat 80% of their problems at primary care level.
It is important for JPA to choose scholars with the correct attitude before offering them scholarships.
Today at 21: 26.27 (1 hour ago)
The writer of the letter is obviously speaking without a clear grasp of the actual situation in Malaysian hospitals.
Frustrated as i am with the discrimative Ministry of Health, I must concede that housemanship training in Malaysia may be actually be better than overseas.
It’s not because we have more knowledgeable specialists here or learned consultants eager to impart knowledge.
It’s not because we have better lab or imaging facilities - we don’t!
It’s merely because we have a high patient load with a wide variety of conditions that require a doctors’ clinical acument and versatile communication skills and much more hands-on training.
We end up being confident and astute doctors at the end of housemanship.
That of course can only materialise if one is sincere in becoming a good doctor.
Apart from that, yes, our healthcare system is still pathetic.
Today at 21: 36.03 (1 hour ago)
baoqingtian, fully supported u…here are my experiences as a medical student with some abroad graduated houseman…
1. got one houseman from ireland if im not mistaken, u know he asked us last time was year 4 medical student to teach him how to set an intravenous line. He said “Why here so different lah, there abroad very easy one?”. In my mind, “Hes not worth to be a doctor, graduated abroad somemore!”
2. if graduating abroad is so damn good, why still got candidates failed the easy up to the standard entry examination?. In my mind, “they study nothing abroad, jollying their scholar money somemore!”
**Now im serious, stop sending JPA scholars abroad, waste of taxpayer money…
Today at 21: 43.47 (1 hour ago)
adriene,
The nation is sorely in need of doctors. In trying to do housemanship or speciale right after graduation overseas is very, very selfish on the writer’s part. He is placing his self interest above the nation’s. He or she is trying to get his specialist training in the shortest time possible. upon returning to Malaysia, he just have to serve out his contract and then disappear to the private sector.
Please do not justify his or her argument.
I say it again, STOP COMPLAINING AND TAKE THE FIRST FLIGHT HOME TO SERVE THE NATION WHICH SORELY NEEDS YOUR SERVICE !!!!
Today at 21: 51.51 (1 hour ago)
From an academic point of view, I of course sympathise with you. However, if you look at the rational of the government, then you have to say they are only trying to make a “return” on their investment. Even if they do let you continue your specialist studies overseas, what guarantee do they have that you will return? Sure, perhaps they should think about funding postgraduate study too, especially since it’s research intensive (oh, how Malaysia suffers in this area), but at the end of the day, there needs to be a return on their investment.
Plus, I find your blanket statement about ALL JPA scholars loving their country to be a tad presumptuous - you may, but there will be many who will happily abscond given the opportunity. Not that there’s anything wrong with wanting to settle in another country in such a global era - but to use that as your justification that JPA scholars will return doesn’t reflect well on your maturity or social awareness.
Today at 21: 52.45 (1 hour ago)
I wanna spank this “frustrated” JPA scholar. Grow up, be a man (or woman), honor your contract. How can the public trust you with their lives if you can’t even honor your obligation you signed with your eyes wide open.
Don’t try to justify your wish to break the contract by intellectualizing your wishy washy arguments. It’s just b*****t to me.
Today at 21: 55.11 (1 hour ago)
After reading Frustrated JPA scholar’s letter, I want to ask him one simple question that is …
After all the years studying oversea & enjoying the best thing there, are u willing to come home to serve the poor old & unfortunate Malaysian & live a pathetic life?
You are the lucky one who got the chance to study oversea yet you still want to stay a little bit longer just in the name of getting a little bit experience.
Tell me after you getting all the expertise & knowledge, what can you contribute to the country. After coming home, you will the same as everyone else “Malaysian”.
Just ask yourselves, after you got a very good pay job there & enjoying your life there, how are you wanting to come home to serve with the pathetic little sum of pay.
Today at 22: 10.23 (1 hour ago)
Dear Uncle Lim,
I think it is time to propose to the government to stop sending our precious student to study abroad on government sponsored study loan/scholarship.
The idea is good but it is subjected to abuse. We have seen well off son getting the sponsorship or the one got it refused to come back & some even ignored to pay back.
Rather than sending our student out, how about getting the experts in to train our student locally. In this case, we can train hundred instead of the selected few.
In this way, we can also upgrade our local facilities & can even attract foreign student.
Today at 22: 24.56 (46 minutes ago)
Why kept on wasting money by sending students overseas? Use that money to improve our local universities. For the spending on one JPA student, you can have many more local students, and hopefully to also improve the ranking of local u.
Today at 22: 33.48 (37 minutes ago)
To the sender of this letter…you’re very lucky to be chosen for the JPA scholarship…what is there to grumble again..?..even one of my family members got 100% As’ in SPM/STPM didnt manage to get the scholarship…you accept the scholarship means you had agreed the terms and conditions the moment u signed the agreement…pls bear in mind that GOV money = taxpayer money..without the money? will u be able to study medi ? or should i say how many of us afford to study abroad for such course?
Today at 22: 38.21 (32 minutes ago)
I’m an overseas graduate with some financial aid from the university. Even for me, I I agree with the majority here that the JPA scholar should be grateful with the opportunity to study overseas especially medicine degree depending on where you study, could cost up to RM600k-1M. Thus, it’s only sensible that he/she comes back to Malaysia to serve the bond. But, being fair to both sides, some scholarships with bond up to 10 years may be too long as these scholars could have lost the opportunity to further develop their career in the best possible way. I guess some ways could be to revise this to a shorter period but, the government should strictly enforce this. But, of course, the government should also try to do their part in ensuring that the work environment and the remuneration is competitive locally for these scholars to work in when they do come back. After all, to be fair, it’s not really optimal when you have someone capable who graduated from the UK in Medicine only to come back to their own country where policies are not in place and not having the right facilities. It’s balancing act which I strongly believe it’s the responsibility of the government and the individual.
Today at 23: 03.29 (7 minutes ago)
All JPA scholars should come back and serve their bond. If they are really that good , then they can apply to further their qualifications. They must be judged in Malaysia. Otherwise make them pay the full amount on what the government have spent on them, if they want to buy themselves out. Please, not 10%.