Faced with the uncertainties of the 'convertible loans', several parties have expressed their opinions that in hindsight, much could have been done to assist the medical student hopefuls who had failed to obtain entry into public universities.

Last month, the cabinet announced a solution for the plight of the 128 top scoring STPM students who failed to gain entry into medical courses in local institutions - 99 of them were offered places in private institutions on 'convertible loans'.

Medical course fees in private institutions are hefty - they range between RM200,000 to RM300,000. The government loans for the 99 came with a catch - only 'first-class' students in their medical course can have them converted into scholarships. The rest will have to repay the full loan.

However, only a handful of students have taken up the offer and signed up at their designated institutions before last Sunday's dateline.

Deputy Education Minister Fu Ah Kiow was reported to be 'clearly upset' over the lukewarm response to the government offer, and dismissed the lack of details as a valid reason to reject the offer.

Reward the students

MCA education bureau chief Dr Wee Ka Siong who had to deal with grievances of several of the 128 students, suggested that one way of overcoming the problems faced by students was to provide them with scholarships, not loans.

However, those given scholarship should be required to work in government hospitals for at least 10 years.

"That way, it would also help to overcome the acute shortage of doctors in public hospitals," said Wee when contacted.

Malaysian Medical Association president Dr N Arumugam said that for the 'convertible loan' idea to work, top students should be allowed to convert their loans to scholarships early in their course.

Students who managed to attain good grades should be awarded scholarships in their first or second semester, he said.

Arumugam also suggested that students should be forced to serve in areas in dire need of doctors, such as rural areas.

"This way, students will think twice before taking up medical courses," he said.

Nevertheless, several affected students and parents contacted by malaysiakini, who have decided to take a risk by registering at their allocated private institutions before the release of the loan details, felt that much could have been done to avoid their present financial uncertainty.

Among the recurring problems pointed out by interviewees, was that the quantum of expenditure when comparing medical students in local universities to those of private institutions was vastly different.

Make it fair

Luke Woon Sy-Cherng from Kluang, Johor, who is one of the 99, said that the government should subsidise a portion of the loan to lessen the financial burden on the students.

Woon has already registered with Allianze College of Medical Science (ACMS) which would require him to undergo the first three years of studies in a university in Sumatra.

"Even if I have to go to Indonesia, I still want to become a doctor. It has always been my goal, and that is why I worked hard (to attain good results)," he said.

Gunasegaran, whose daughter Jayanthi, had already started classes with the Asian Institute of Medical Science and Technology (AIMST), felt that the government should not put more burden on the 99.

"They (the 99) should be made to pay the same amount as medical students in public universities. Any extra amount (should the 99 take up offers at private institutions), should be borne by the government," said Gunasegaran.

Presently, medical students have to pay an approximately RM20,000 in tuition fees at public universities.

A check with ACMS showed that the tuition fees would be approximately RM35,000 annually, while AIMST charges RM190,000 in tuition fees for a five-year course.