MCA dismayed after 10A scorers fail matriculation bid

• UPDATED 3.03PM | Added MAC Youth’s statement.

MCA president Wee Ka Siong has expressed disappointment after some non-bumiputera SPM top scorers failed in their appeal to enrol for the government’s matriculation programme.

This is despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement last week that all those who scored 10As or higher in SPM would be guaranteed a spot in matriculation institutes, regardless of race.

Wee said his office and MCA Youth’s office have been receiving calls from heartbroken parents whose children failed to make the cut after the outcome of matriculation enrolment appeals was revealed yesterday afternoon.

“Even though the prime minister had made an official announcement about the cabinet’s decision, there are still high-achievers who have failed to enter the matriculation programme. They are disappointed for the second time.

“I feel for the students as they are so disappointed when they have failed in their appeal attempts even though they scored 10As or 9As,” he said on Facebook yesterday.

A day earlier, it was reported that MCA was assisting 173 students who sought MCA’s help to get a spot in the pre-university programme, including 69 who scored 10As.

Clear answer needed from PM

In a separate statement today, MCA Youth education committee chairperson Ong Chee Siang said only 23 of the students were successful in their appeal - all of them had scored 10As or more.

One student failed to make the cut despite having 10A+.

Ong urged Anwar to explain why so many have failed to enter the matriculation programme despite their score and the prime minister’s guarantee.

“MCA Youth hopes the prime minister can give a clear answer and explain what is the problem.

“Why has reality fallen short of those promises despite assurances from the education minister and higher education minister that non-bumiputera students with 10A will be enrolled without affecting the quota?

“To this day, students who only took nine subjects seem to have been forsaken by the education ministry. There is still no news on whether they qualify to enrol into the matriculation programme,” Ong said.

The matriculation programme is offered as an alternative to STPM for university entrance, with 90 percent of the programme reserved for bumiputera students.

Despite Anwar’s announcement, however, there is a lack of clarity on how the new policy will be implemented.

MCA had also criticised the new policy as being unfair to students who took fewer than 10 subjects.

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