A group of Pakatan Rakyat MPs urged the Education Ministry to take immediate action to solve the plight of 330 medical students who are in a limbo after a private medical college in Penang closed down, almost a month ago due to financial problems.

PKR's Kuala Kedah MP  told a press conference at the Parliament lobby that the students had already opted for new universities to transfer themselves to.

However, Syed Azman said, the Education Ministry has not given them the green light - which means the students, many of whom have taken loans for their medical courses, are unable to start their classes.

The Allianze University College of Medical Sciences (AUCMS) ceased operation on Oct 15 after months of financial difficulties and the college also failed to pay its staff their salaries for four consecutive months.

AUCMS was located in Kepala Batas, Penang.

About 210 students opted to transfer to Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences (CUCMS) in Cyberjaya and another 120 to the Asian Institute for Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) in Semeling, Kedah.

PKR's Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul ( above, righ t) said the government "must take responsibility" for not having done due diligence in approving AUCMS in the first place.

"This gives the country a bad image," Johari said.

PAS Sepang MP Hanipa Maidin, who was also at the press conference highlighting this matter, said an issue such as this should not repeat again.

"How is the government controlling private medical colleges?" Hanipa asked.