Enough seats for all, says Zambry

Reports by ROWENA CHUA, REBECCA RAJAENDRAM, CHARLES RAMENDRAN, RSN MURALI, WANI MUTHIAH and GERARD GIMINO

KUALA LUMPUR: All top scorers are guaranteed a spot in the government’s matriculation and foundation programmes.

Assuring students with 10As and above in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) that there are enough spots in both programmes for the top scorers, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said this was part of the unity government’s policy to give due recognition and provide opportunity to all students who are able to excel in their studies.

“SPM students who did not get into the matriculation programme, can enrol into public universities’ foundation programmes.

All smiles: Zambry (third left) at the Concorde Club event. With him were Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Media Relations senior director Vincent De Paul (left), Wong (fourth left), M.Tegarajan from Vanakkam Malaysia (third right), Star Media Group chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng (right) and guests. — ART CHEN/The star

“We will make sure everybody is given a place.

“There are sufficient places in both programmes to cater to all top scorers,” he told reporters after speaking at the Concorde Club meeting yesterday.

Zambry said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has asked the Higher Education Ministry to make sure that students who score 10As and above get a place in public universities through foundation programmes that accept SPM leavers.

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He said one of the issues discussed during his meeting with the premier was the latter’s announcement on June 30 that all SPM students with 10As and above, regardless of background, will get a place in the matriculation programme.

“Even if they do not get a spot in the matriculation programme, they will get a place in the public universities,” he said, adding that the issue was not about students securing a spot but about getting their first choice degree programme.

“The Higher Education Ministry and the Education Ministry will be working closely together to identify these 10A students and we will work closely to provide necessary information for their respective placements either in matriculation or in the (public) university’s foundation programmes,” he said.

On Sunday, Anwar said the decision to guarantee these excellent students a spot in the matriculation programme was reached after a Cabinet meeting last Friday.

“At the same time, the existing bumiputra quota system for the Education Ministry’s matriculation programme remains unaffected,” he said.

Zambry also said SPM 2023 candidates who scored 10As and above (including those who got straight As), who already know their matriculation application status, could still appeal to enter the programme or public university foundation programmes.

He said there are counters open at the ministry’s lobby to handle the appeals.

“The Higher Education Ministry is echoing the call of the Prime Minister to provide places for the students who obtained 10As and above,” he said.The Concorde Club is an informal group of editors and senior journalists meeting with politicians and key policymakers.

Previous guests of the Club led by Star Media Group advisor and Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai include Anwar, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, and former MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.