Media statement by Loke Siew Fook in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 31^st May 2011:

PSD scholarship row is due to the failure of MCA to influence government's policies

MCA Youth Chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong should openly admit that it was the failure of MCA to influence the federal government's policy on Public Service Department scholarship and to stop giving false hopes to Malaysians that priorities are given to the best students. In actual fact, the mechanism of the distribution of PSD scholarship for this year is no different from previous years as the distribution for overseas scholarship were fixed at 20% for merit-based, 60% for racial quota, 10% for under privilege and 10% for Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputera.

In a twitter posting on May 29 at 10.39 pm, Wee posted "MCA's stand: give priority to top students to get PILN (overseas scholarships) especially Full A+ students. As thousand get 8A+, only 1500 PILN, so choose the best, not 2nd best!"

This statement is clearly a misrepresentation because of the 1500 places for overseas scholarships only 20% or 300 places were distributed based on merit. 60% or 900 places were distributed based on the racial composition of the country. The balance is based on the remaining 2 categories. Ka Siong was trying to impress the public into believing that top students can compete for the 1500 places whereas in actual fact, there were only 300 places to be distributed based on merit.

There are other factors such as racial background that has to be considered for the other places. How can PSD officials "choose the best, not 2nd best" as championed by Ka Siong when the BN government's policy is as such? If there is any party to be blamed, Ka Siong should look into the mirror and ask why MCA failed to influence the policy of the federal government to give PSD scholarship to top students irrespective of race when they have four ministers in the Cabinet?

It is also so unbecoming of Ka Siong as a Deputy Minister to warn others such as DAP Secretary General Lim Guan Eng in raising the PSD scholarship issue. Is Ka Siong so powerful now that he cannot be criticized or questioned by others? Let me tell Ka Siong that if he is not willing to be criticized he should then pack his bags and resign from politics! DAP leaders will never be intimidated by anyone in speaking up for justice unlike MCA leaders who want to be heroes but dare not challenge the policies set by UMNO.

* Loke Siew Fook, DAPSY Chief & MP for Rasah