‘No review of PSD scholarship selection criteria’

(NST) PUTRAJAYA: There will be no review of the selection criteria for Public Service Department scholarships, PSD director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam said yesterday.

He said he had not received any directive to reconsider the criteria.

Unsuccessful applicants for scholarships had until Monday to appeal, he added.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said on Wednesday there would be a review of the PSD criteria for giving out scholarships.

Ismail denied there was a meeting among Barisan Nasional component party leaders, the chief secretary to the government and himself, as claimed by Ong.

Ismail also denied Ong's claims on the current selection criteria.

Ong was reported to have said that the selection was based on four criteria — merit (20 per cent), race (60 per cent), Sabah and Sarawak residents (10 per cent) and students from underprivileged groups (10 per cent).

"I think he may have confused it with the distribution of scholarships. We practise a meritocracy system with the criteria: academic (75 per cent), co-curricular activities (10 per cent), family background (10 per cent) and interview (five per cent)."

He said the choice of courses played a crucial role on whether candidates were awarded a scholarship or not.

He said since the results of the offer were announced last Friday, his department had received more than 2,000 appeals.