Govt: JPA Scholarships Not Abolished; New Structure to be Released

According to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, “It is up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to decide and announce the details,” he said last week. 

(photo from The Star)

“A study is being made on how much is the cost (to sponsor these scholars), what is the Government’s capability, and how the scholars will be selected,” he added.

He also urged applicants to be patient as the announcement will address three different scholarships. 

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman has made it clear that the government did not abolish JPA scholarship. She shared that for 2016, the government had allocated RM1.6 billion through scholarship. 

(photo from The Star)

“This clearly shows the government has never shelved the question of education and therefore, I hope all parties will not politicise the issue and confuse the people,” she said. 

She is referring to the news report with a headline that said “Government saves RM240 million a year by cancelling scholarship.”

Azlina shared that even though government saved RM240 million from cancelling 744 scholarships allotted for further studies abroad, sponsorships for local studies will still continue. 

As of this time, the government is still sponsoring 49,060 students - 41,324 locally and 7,736 abroad. 

“With this, I want to stress that the government has never abolished JPA scholarship as alleged by certain parties,” she said. 

With reports from: Malaymail Online