PETALING JAYA: A student's physical condition should never be used to deny them the opportunity to pursue their passion and career, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president, in a social media post on Monday (Aug 18), highlighted the plight of student Lim Chin Hong from Ayer Hitam who was rejected by public universities to study electrical engineering due to his physical disability.
According to Dr Wee, who is also the Ayer Itam MP, Lim was just seven when the doctors discovered a tumour in the blood vessel of his right knee in a condition called hemangioma.
“After surgery, he had to rely on crutches to walk, and his right calf began to shrink. In 2023, he eventually had to undergo an amputation of his right lower leg,” Dr Wee shared.
Despite these challenges, Lim worked tirelessly and scored an outstanding 4.0 CGPA in his Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) to pursue his dreams of becoming an electrical engineer.
A science stream student from SMK Yong Peng, Lim had scored straight A's in Pengajian Am, Physics, Mathematics & Chemistry in STPM 2024, Dr Wee said.
“However, when he applied for public universities, Lim was shocked to find that all the engineering courses he selected were removed from the system,” said Dr Wee.
“And engineering was no longer an option for him,” he added.
The president added that together with Yong Peng state assemblyman YB Ling Tian Soon, they will assist Lim to look for education opportunities elsewhere.
“We will also request the Higher Education Ministry to review the policies in public universities to see if Lim is truly being discriminated against due to his physical abilities,” he said.
“What matters most is their capability, commitment, and academic excellence, which Lim has proven all of these with his results,” said Dr Wee.
He added that as an engineer himself, he has witnessed many engineers with disabilities who have been given equal opportunities to education and jobs.
“Engineers are not only confined to working in sites, but are able to get involved in designing, consulting and marketing.
