Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong says the people must stop making assumptions that the Public Service Department (JPA) has stopped disbursing funds to scholarship holders. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 22, 2016.Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has denied saying the Public Service Department (JPA) has suspended government scholarships and that the matter was being studied by the department.
In a Facebook post responding to public outcry over the news, he blamed the panic among parents and students on inaccurate reporting by a news portal that had lifted the news from a Chinese daily.
“The issue of the purported JPA suspension had been reported for some days in the media quoting concerned parents and students on the issue. I had not announce the suspension nor did I confirm it.
“In order to seek clarification on the issue, I had brought up the matter in this week's (January 20, 2016) Cabinet meeting and if need be, to find a solution to this matter, particularly from the JPA.
“In response, Yang Amat Berhormat Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has immediately instructed the Chief Secretary to the Government and the JPA to study and submit a report to the Cabinet next week,” said Wee, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.
He said the news portal had misquoted the original report carried by the Chinese daily and had neglected to contact him to check on facts.
“I cannot be held responsible if my comments are distorted,” he said.
In The Star, Wee was quoted saying that people should stop making assumptions that JPA had stopped disbursing funds to scholarship holders.
The newspaper said “only those who received the national bursary in 2014 were affected” and added that people should wait for JPA to make further announcements.
News of the purported suspension of scholarships had prompted DAP's Anthony Loke to call for cuts in other federal expenditures such as discretionary spending in the Prime Minister's Department.
PKR's Rafizi Ramli said Putrajaya should use the RM1.1 million grant it gave state-owned investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad to fund the scholarships instead. – January 22, 2016.
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