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Opinion
Privileged life of JPA scholars
Ooi Kok Hin
Ooi Kok Hin studies Political Science and Philosophy at Ohio State
University. You can get your daily dose of his opinions at
facebook.com/thebawangreport
*BY Ooi Kok Hin*
Ooi Kok Hin studies Political Science and Philosophy at Ohio State
University. You can get your daily dose of his opinions at
facebook.com/thebawangreport
Published: 2 May 2015

Every year the Public Service Department (JPA) scholarship, and the
university admission process, causes a ruckus.
The script is always the same: some excellent straight A students do not
get the scholarship (or the course they wanted), the media reports make
waves in the social media, and the cycle repeats the following year.
To be sure, this is not a negligible issue. This is a systemic,
structural issue that should have been corrected long ago. But this
problem is not the focus of this article.
Rather, I want to shine light on the lesser known aspects of this
scholarship. The following account is just my personal observation,
which may not be generalised for all JPA students.
I am also informed that the new JPA scholarship criteria and terms of
contract are different from those of my batch, so take my account for
whatever it is worth.
I come from a low-middle income family. My family live in a small flat
and I do not have my own room.
We are not poor, but we are not rich either. Back when I was in
secondary school, we did not own a car, we never had a family trip, and
both my parents have full-time jobs.
When I was in Form 4, somehow an idea was planted into my mind. I
dreamed of earning a scholarship that will allow me to study overseas
and see the outside world.
There are many scholarships, but the most obvious candidate is the JPA
scholarship.
The reason boiled down to quantity. There can be as many as 1,500 JPA
overseas scholarships per year (or more).
There is an additional 2,000 JPA local scholarships. Compared to other
sponsors such as Bank Negara, Petronas, or YTL, JPA is probably the only
sponsor which provides over a thousand spots (opportunities).
For most of students, JPA scholarship is our best bet for a scholarship.
Some of us cannot apply for Mara scholarships, which further increases
the importance of JPA scholarship as the only realistic avenue for
scholarship for those of us who are not all-rounders or super top students.
I know of adults who were previously JPA scholars, so it is probable
that JPA scholarship has been around for several decades.
Tens of thousands of (once) young Malaysians have been sponsored to
pursue their tertiary education at home and abroad.
I applied for four scholarships after getting my SPM result. JPA was the
only sponsor which called me up for an interview.
I remember it was held at Kepala Batas because that was the stronghold
of the previous prime minister. During the group interview, we were
asked one question in English and another question in Malay.

During my time, JPA scholars received their contract upon successful

application and were required to enrol in prep-colleges (Taylors
College, INTEC, Sunway etc).
After one to two years at those colleges (during which we have to
maintain a specified CGPA), we are sent to study at a foreign university.
When I took the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Ohio, US, we made a transit
at Narita, Tokyo. That was the first time Ive ever stepped foot in a
foreign land (Keep in mind that I never even get into Thailand or
Singapore previously).
Like a village kid who just got into a big city, I was amazed by
Japanese courtesy and facilities.
During both our studies at local prep college and foreign university,
JPA scholars are given rental allowance and monthly expenditure.
Tuition fees are paid by Putrajaya and we do not have to take a single
cent of loan. We basically have everything provided to us.
Occasionally, I come across statements by fellow JPA scholars that the
allowance is not enough. The most vivid memory was when a senior JPA
scholar at my university told newly arrived students that the allowance
was too little.
I too wish for an allowance increase, but scaring off the juniors like
that isnt the right thing to do. Fact is, we are already being given
everything.
Rent and monthly allowances are enough for decent living. If you want to
eat outside every time, go shopping every weekend, or go travel every
semester break, you have to work and earn the money to do so.
Quite frankly, too many JPA scholars have taken for granted the
scholarship which we so determinedly and passionately pursued in the past.
We complain every time the JPA officer is slow to get back to our
emails, but we never say a word of thanks when the allowance is
deposited on time, every time.
We criticise the state of our country, the lack of economic
opportunities, and the backwardness of our countrymen.
But we forget that we are the ones who are given the opportunities to
enjoy quality education and to graduate debt-free, and in return, we
will lift our countrymen upwards not looking down at them.
We say we are too qualified for certain jobs in Malaysia. But without
the scholarship funded by the people and given to us by the sponsors who
trusted us, do we have the qualifications we now have?
Im not asking everybody to return and serve the country. Sometimes you
can contribute better from the outside, depending on your field of
expertise and available opportunities.
Plus, most JPA scholars never served their bond anyway because the civil
service is bloated.
There is too much supply (of JPA scholars) and too little demand

(vacancies in the civil service), so many JPA scholars have to find

their own jobs.
No other country on earth sponsored so many of her citizens every year
to pursue higher education at home and abroad.
Welfare states provide free tertiary education, but do not sponsor their
students to study abroad in so many numbers. And everybody pays 30-40% tax.
At the Ohio State University, Malaysians make up the fourth largest
international population behind China, India, and South Korea.
Most of the international students pay their own tuition fees, while
easily over half of the Malaysians are sponsored by either JPA or Mara.
American students take up college loans which they will have to work and
pay off for the next 20 years of their life.
Our neighbour down south, Singapore, is well known as a talent hub. To
its credit, Singapore knows how to attract and retain talents.
Even several of our MPs are the beneficiaries of scholarships provided
by the Singaporean government. But meritocracy has its cost too.
Singapore provides scholarships for the best and brightest, local and
(especially) foreign students.
Malaysia, on the other hand, provides scholarships on a large scale to
its own citizens continuously for several decades.
Sure, there are many things to be fixed with the system and too many are
left out.
But as it is, if you are a Malaysian citizen, you know that there is
always an opportunity for you to chase your dreams if you work hard
enough, with the help of a bit of luck.
Even if you do not get a scholarship, tertiary education in Malaysia is
much more affordable than developed countries.
Even after you adjust the currency rate and household income, Malaysians
can afford to obtain education if they want it.
There is also the MyBrain initiative, which offers scholarships for
Malaysians to pursue Masters and PhD.
We are lucky in the sense that Malaysia is still a developing country
which needs to grow its talents.
In America, the pool is crowded and PhD holders are working as adjunct
professors with minimal pay and job security. In Malaysia, we are giving
money to people to study PhD.
I know there are things in Malaysia which could, and should, have been
much better. But in the midst of our complaints and political
differences, let us not forget to appreciate the many good things that
our country has which other countries dont (Besides the food, of course).
At the bottom of the article, I have listed a number of scholarship
websites. Hopefully more Malaysians get to enjoy quality education and
appreciate the opportunity given to us by others.

To fellow JPA scholars, Pandang langit, jangan lupa tanah. You and I
are not entitled to the privilege which we enjoy today.
The money could have been used to build schools or invest in someone
elses life. But we are the ones who get to enjoy this privilege.
Lets carry ourselves to the best of our ability and show some return on
investment through our character and achievements. May 2, 2015.
_http://www.malaysiascholarships.my/_
_http://malaysia-scholarship.net/_
_http://afterschool.my/scholarship/_
_https://biasiswa.moe.gov.my/MyBrain15/v2/_
_http://www.majlisraja-raja.gov.my/index.php/bm/biasiswa-majlis-raja-raja/biasis
wa-yang-di-pertuan-agong_
_http://esilav2.jpa.gov.my/_
_http://scholarshipmalaysia.blogspot.com/#axzz3Yw4LPL7P_
/* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does
not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider./
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