EVERY year, the government spends hundreds of millions (if not billion) of ringgit of taxpayers’ money to sponsor students to pursue critical courses like medicine, dentistry and pharmacy at local as well as overseas universities through the Public Service Department, Mara (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) and other agencies. The government spends roughly between RM300,000 and over a million ringgit to cover the fees and living allowances for each student pursuing these courses.
Only top students with straight As in SPM, STPM, KPM matriculation or other pre-university qualifications are chosen to be sponsored by these government agencies. The intention is for these students to be bonded to serve the country for a number of years at government clinics or hospitals as doctors, dentists or pharmacists after completing their studies and training.