In reference to Dr Sarah Vergis' letter about problems of unrecognised medical degrees, I would like to add that this problem has been going on for very long time. I have known graduates who have left the medical profession because they were unable to clear the local final year examination.

However, they are mainly non-bumiputeras and they are all self-sponsored. Their problems were never highlighted in the Malay language newspapers and the upper-rung management officers in the government were not bothered.

These cases were also not highlighted by other media. Even if their plight was published in English, Tamil or Chinese newspapers it would be pointless as these management officers do not read these newspapers.

With regards to the student who studied at an unrecognised Japanese university, it is a special case as the person is a bumiputera. His case was also highlighted in the Malay newspapers so he deserves special treatment.

Moreover, the Public Services Department (PSD) has spent a lot of taxpayers' money in educating this person, so he must repay the taxpayers by serving the public.

Where the problem of unrecognised medical degrees is confined to 'second-class citizens' there is no special solution. If it involves a 'privileged' citizen, there must be a special solution. We would not have known this problem if it was never highlighted by the Malay newspapers.

So Sarah, I am sorry to say that you need to born privileged if you want your problems to be solved in a special way in our beloved Bolehland.