Turned down by the Police Department despite repeated attempts to sign up, Soo Pak Leong is determined that it does not happen to anyone else.

Although the Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) graduate has resigned to himself that he could never be a cop, Soo is now on a personal mission to get TARC courses recognised by the government.

"The government is always encouraging the Chinese to join the public service sector, especially the police force. But what happened to me badly reflects on their policies," said Soo.

Soo, 27, obtained an engineering degree conferred by Campbell University US had twice applied to become a cadet assistant superintendent (ASP) since 2003 but was unsuccessful.

Last year, he applied for the post of inspector but was also rejected on the grounds that it was not recognised by the Public Service Department.

He has sent repeated e-mails to the Ministry of Higher Education, as well as to senior MCA party officials, including party president Ong Ka Ting, but to little or no response. MCA founded the college in 1969.

'A real shame'

"The government must recognise qualifications from the college as they are well accepted in the private sector. The government must change [by recognising TARC papers]. I hope that through my case, the next graduate from TARC who wants to join the government service will not be disappointed," said Soo.

He was speaking reporters at a press conference at the Selangor DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

"MCA is part of the government, and the college has a nearly a 40-year history. Yet MCA cannot protest its own interests," said Lim Lip Eng, the publicity secretary for Selangor DAP.

"It is a real shame the party cannot get the government to recognise a bachelor's degree holder from a college it founded. This despite having a deputy minister in the Ministry of Higher Education [Ong Tee Keat]."

"If they cannot defend their own college, then how can the party defend the interest of Tamil, or independent [vernacular] schools?" asks Lim.

Selangor DAP secretary Lau Wen Sang said his party would press on in getting TARC courses recognised, despite appearing to do the ruling component party a favour.

"The party's MPs will raise the issue during the ministerial winding up session in Parliament on Monday," said Lau.

Public or private college?

On another matter, Soo said his main demand is that TARC must clear the air whether it is a public or private higher education institute. The government currently funds half of the cost of running the college.

"I have e-mailed the college on their official website, but has yet to receive a reply," said Soo.

He added that TARC must work to get its advanced diplomas recognised: "There are so few courses in TARC that are recognised by the government. I did a check and I can count them with one hand. And they're very general courses."

Meanwhile, asked to speculate on why TARC is having difficulty obtaining recognition from the government, Soo replied, "I honestly don't know. But we need to get the college and the authorities to take a few basic steps first."

"We know that the college is well recognised in the private sector. But should a student decide to serve in the government, he should be given the opportunity to do so, without having to waste his time at TARC. That's what I want," he added.