PSD to impose more penalties

Sunday May 11, 2008

WE REFER to the letters published in The Star from 14 -17 April 2008 in response to the letter “Grads prefer to stay on overseas” (The Star, April 13).

Medical graduates are required to undergo their housemanship in Malaysia to be appointed as medical officers by the Health Ministry.

However, since 2003 an increasing number of PSD (Public Service Department) students have ignored this requirement to return home upon graduation.

Compensation claims by the PSD against errant scholars are also no longer based on the stipulated amount in the contract.

We are also considering imposing a heavier penalty on all our overseas sponsored students who fail to return home.

For those who refuse to fulfil their obligations, we issue a notice of demand to them or their guarantors (usually their parents), to repay, in one lump sum, the amount spent on them.

Errant scholars who have disregarded the notice of demand have had their names forwarded to the Attorney-General for legal action against them or their guarantors.

We are considered publishing the names of those who have defaulted on their loans in the major newspapers.

In addition, the PSD is gradually sending more students to countries with affordable cost of living and excellent academic standards, especially in medical fields such as India, Indonesia, the Czech Republic, Jordan and Egypt where the expenses are much lower than those in Britain and Ireland.

It is also considering offering a convertible loan to all future PSD-sponsored students seeking to study overseas rather than a scholarship as is the current practice.

The number of years to which a PSD-sponsored medical student will be bonded to serve the government will also be lengthened.

In addition, the PSD will also be working closely with the Public Service Commission to initiate new recruitment strategies for PSD scholars in their final semester of study.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT,
Public Service Department.