The government was not bowing down to pressure when it decided to absorb the 128 top students who were denied medical seats in public universities, said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.

He said the decision was made because the cabinet felt it was difficult to reject students who scored a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 "which is considered a perfect score".

"The decision is not one where we had to bow to pressure...and we don't want to deny them (seats) to further their studies in the field of medicine," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

The deputy premier was responding to a question from reporters on whether the decision was due to pressure from certain parties.

In its weekly meeting yesterday, the cabinet decided to absorb all the unsuccessful students with a 4.0 CGPA into public universities and private institutions of higher learning offering the medical programme.

The cabinet agreed that the students be offered places in the public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) for the first two years or the pre-clinical phase and after that they would be transferred to either a public or a private institution of higher learning (IPTS) for the clinical phase, depending on vacancies.

Maintaining standards

Najib said the decision was also made because there was still room in the IPTA and IPTS to increase the number of students for the medical course.

Following the decision, the lecturer to students ratio for the pre-clinical phase in the medical faculties in the IPTA and IPTS will be raised to 1:6 from 1:4.

However, Najib stressed that for the clinical phase the government would not compromise on the standard.

"So, during the two-year pre-clinical phase in the IPTA, we will think of ways to further expand our capacity for the clinical phase," he said.

Asked whether the government would open medical faculties in the other public universities since only six are offering medical courses now, he said the government had to study the matter carefully because it involved huge costs, among others.

"It's not that easy to set up a medical faculty...it needs a big expenditure and experienced lecturers.

"Even if we want to, it would take time because it can't be done hastily as we don't want to compromise on the standard," Najib added.