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So, finally it has made the headlines. After many years of me talking about it, finally the reality was reported by mainstream newspapers few days ago. When many of us in the medical line brought up the issue of too many medical schools and too little training position, we were condemned. This is partly because the government itself, till 2014 denied that such a thing will happen. For those who know our government very well, surely know that not all said are trustable. Despite overwhelming evidence, people refuse to believe. As I had always said, people would only want to listen to good stuffs. When I tell them the truth and reality, I am accused of discouraging, very negative etc. No job is going to be guaranteed….. The only difference is , you will be spending RM 300-600K for a medical degree locally!

On 19/01/2017, The Star as well as Malay mail published an extensive report regarding contract HO post and no guarantee of a civil service post thereafter. Since I wrote about the contract HO post in November 2016, a Malay mail reporter was trying to get in touch with me to get my views on the issues. However, I did not respond to her since I was overseas till mid December 2016. She contacted me again few days before the articles were published and I gave my views. She was more interested about the JPA scholars. She wanted a copy of the contract which I refused, as the doctor’s name is written on the contract.

As usual, all these happened because there is no such thing as “planning” by our ministries. Each ministry works on its own without proper consultation with other ministries. For Ministry of Education(MOE), their goal is to make Malaysia an education hub, quality aside. It is a money-making business. My stand has always been that education should never be commercialised! License to start medical schools were given like peanuts. Only in Malaysia, colleges in a shop-lot can be given license to run a medical program. Accreditation works on minimum criteria and not based on an expected standard. As long as the college achieve a minimum standard, they will get the green light to continue. It’s like saying, 20% is enough to pass. You don’t need 70% to prove you are good and excellent. MOE treated medicine just like any other educational program!

Medicine is not like any other course. The 5 years undergraduate program is just the beginning. It is a life long learning. You learn by apprenticeship. You are dealing with life and death mater. A simple prescription error can cause a death! Training can only be done in accredited training centres. Many parents live in a delusional world thinking that jobs for doctors are guaranteed. The fact is, not anymore. Even in countries like US, UK, Australia etc, doctors work on contract basis. However, most of these countries have enough internship post for their graduates, due to proper planning strategy. Apart from internship, there is no guarantee that you will get a permanent job. Some survive by doing locum. Malaysia is now entering the same situation. And don’t forget that if your degree is not recognised elsewhere, you can’t work in another country without first sitting and clearing their qualification exam, with no guarantee of a job. This will cost you more money!

From the newspaper report, it is also obvious that all HO post will be given under contract basis from now onwards, even for JPA scholars. Permanent post is only eligible after you complete your housemanship and there is no guarantee that JPA scholars will be given a permanent post. As I mentioned earlier, this is good to kick out the poor performers and retain the best  in civil service. However, the selection process must be transparent. If not, many accusation will be floating around in the next few years. Please be informed that if you do get a permanent post after housemanship, you have to go where the post is vacant! You cannot choose or appeal. If you don’t want to go, someone else would be willing. You can’t choose where you want to work. You are also not eligible for car or house loan from the government if you are not holding a permanent post. Even bank loans can be a problem is you don’t have a permanent job.

With 32 medical schools and close to 38 medical programs, oversupply of doctors is inevitable. As of 31/12/2015, based on MOH statistics, the doctor : population ratio is already 1: 656, not including doctors from non-MOH public hospitals. So, we are already 2 years ahead. Chasing after numbers do not make any difference. Quantity does not equate to quality!

Well, I had spoken enough about these issues many times before, including in my books that was published last year. So, I will not repeat it all over again.

It is time for medical graduates to look for other jobs. GP market will be flooded in few years time and as I had mentioned in my last article, unethical practices will become a norm in the name of survival……..

Gong Xi Fa Chai everyone…………..

Contract doctors judged on merit, not government scholarship, MOH says

BY BOO SU-LYN

Published: January 19, 2017 08:50 AM GMT+8

Dr Noor Hisham confirmed that permanent positions for graduating house officers were not guaranteed. ― Malay Mail pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 — Permanent positions will be offered to contract house officers depending on their performance rather than any government scholarship they may or may not have received, the Health Ministry said today.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed that the government started the first intake of contract housemanship last December 5, with Public Service Department (PSD) scholars among the graduate doctors on contract as no permanent positions were offered at all.

“Based on merits, not based on scholarships,” Dr Noor Hisham told Malay Mail Online, when asked if PSD scholars will be prioritised for permanent positions given that they are bonded to the government.

“Bond still the same and when they are absorbed to permanent post, their service from Dec 5 will be taken into permanent service too,” he added.

Dr Noor Hisham also confirmed that permanent positions for graduating house officers were not guaranteed.

“If you are competent and good, then no worries. Those non-performers and MIA [missing in action] should be worried as it’s based on merits. For this, anywhere you go it’s the same — public or private.

“Who wants to employ incompetent and missing in action doctors?” the Health DG said.

Dr Pagalavan Letchumanan, a consultant physician and rheumatologist, said he was made to understand that 1,300 contract housemanship placements were given out, including for PSD scholars, after the last Public Services Commission of Malaysia interview in October 2016.

“There is no guarantee that you will be continued to be employed just because you are a PSD scholar! This comes as a surprise even to me as the scholarship contract specifically says that you will be bonded with the government for 10 years,” Dr Pagalavan posted on his bloglast November.

“What happens if the scholar is not able to get a permanent job with the government? Does he need to pay his bond? An interesting question,” he added.

Dr Pagalavan told Malay Mail Online that a PSD scholar had told him that he was given a contract post and was informed that the government bond was between the scholar and PSD, and had nothing to do with the Health Ministry.

Among the criteria listed on the house officer’s contract for the offer of a permanent position, “depending on the availability of positions”, were completion of one’s housemanship, a good track record and a recommendation from the head of department.

The copy of the contract that Dr Pagalavan posted on his blog also stated that the government could terminate the contract at any time if the house officer’s performance was not satisfactory and that a 30-day notice, or one month’s basic salary, would be given.

“Somehow, I feel this will remove all the dead wood graduates from the system. However, I am also worried about lack of transparency in making such [a] selection,” Dr Pagalavan said, adding that a committee should be formed to ensure that such decisions were fair.

Malaysian Medical Association president Dr John Chew claimed that before the implementation of the contract housemanship system, 20 per cent of doctors holding such posts were not performing.

“So the new system will be better,” Dr Chew told Malay Mail Online.

“For most of us, employment and work are more important. Most people are happy that they have started work”.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam reportedly said last October that offering contract housemanship would help about 2,600 graduate doctors on the waiting list every year, saying that they could wait for up to a year because there were not enough permanent positions.

– See more at: http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/contract-doctors-judged-on-merit-not-government-scholarship-moh-says#sthash.2nwRcPoG.dpuf

Medicos no longer guaranteed civil service employment

BY LOH FOON FONG

‘Permanent appointments will be based on their merit during housemanship training and recommendation by the Health director-general.’ – Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min

EXCLUSIVE: PETALING JAYA: Permanent employment for doctors, pharmacists and dentists in the civil service is no longer guaranteed.

The Government has started issuing jobs on a contract basis for them since last month as announced in Budget 2017.

According to the Health Ministry, if doctors successfully completed their housemanship within the three years of contract, they would have another two-year contract for compulsory service as a medical officer.

Pharmacists will be hired as provisionally registered pharmacists (PRP) for one year, with a maximum contract offered for two years and for the compulsory service thereafter, one year, with a maximum contract offered for one year.

There is no compulsory internship for dentists and compulsory service for them is one year, with a maximum contract offered for three years.

Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min said from last month, 1,219 candidates had been offered jobs on a contract basis by the Public Service Commission.

“Permanent appointments will be based on their merit during housemanship training and recommendation by the Health director-general,” he said in an e-mail to The Star.

The move, he said, is expected to reduce waiting time for housemanship training and compulsory service.

Dr Chen said competent staff who fulfilled specific requirements will get permanent posts but they may not immediately get the posts until there are vacancies.

Their salaries will be backdated to the date of appointment once the posts are available, he said.

He said for government scholars who have not been offered permanent posts in the ministry upon completion of their compulsory service, they could seek jobs in the university and military hospitals and the private sector.

He also said that for this year, the ministry planned to take in 9,300 candidates – six batches of intakes which will involve 5,425 candidates for house officers (housemen), three batches (1,921) for dental officers and four batches (1,954) for pharmacists.

He added that housemen will enjoy the same benefits received by permanent house officers as stipulated in a 2008 circular on contract of service with additional advantages.

Those under this “modified contract” will have full-pay medical leave up to 90 days, and the extension of medical treatment for parents in government hospitals and clinics, he said.

But only those who are appointed as permanent medical officers and have obtained their confirmation in service are eligible to apply for government housing loans, he said.

The monthly basic pay of a houseman is the same as the grade category UD41 of the permanent service which is RM2,947, while a dentist (grade UG41) gets RM2,844 and a pharmacist (UF41) RM2,740. With allowances, they could get RM4,000.

On the criteria for a permanent medical officer post, Dr Chen said doctors must fulfil the service requirements, including attaining a good level of competency and performance of at least 85% in the yearly performance review during their house­man­­­ship training or compulsory service.

The permanent posts would also be given to the best talents who have the potential for specialty training and are willing to serve at any place in the ministry’s facilities during their tenure, he added.

PSD confirms no permanent spot in public hospitals for scholars

Published: January 20, 2017 03:00 PM GMT+8      

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed that the government started the first intake of contract housemanship last December 5, with PSD scholars among the graduate doctors on contract as no permanent positions were offered at all. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — The Public Services Department (PSD) has confirmed reports that only performing scholars will be offered permanent contracts at public hospitals.

In an email response to a query by Malay Mail Online, the agency said that the government is currently looking at alternatives on how to absorb scholars who failed to secure permanent jobs despite being offered housemanship contracts by its hospitals.

“Students who qualify for our scholarships are excellent students. With that we hope that they can continue to display similar performance as they do with their studies, and show high commitment when executing their duties under their housemanship contracts so that they can be offered permanent jobs,” the agency said.

“Nevertheless, the government is currently looking at several alternatives should PSD medical scholars already offered housemanship contracts fail to secure permanent jobs once their contract ends,” it added.

Yesterday Malay Mail Online reported that public hospitals will only offer permanent contracts to  house officers based on their performance, and not to any government scholarship students.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed that the government started the first intake of contract housemanship last December 5, with PSD scholars among the graduate doctors on contract as no permanent positions were offered at all.

“Based on merits, not based on scholarships,” Dr Noor Hisham told Malay Mail Online, when asked if PSD scholars will be prioritised for permanent positions given that they are bonded to the government.

“Bond still the same and when they are absorbed to permanent post, their service from Dec 5 will be taken into permanent service too,” he added.

Dr Noor Hisham also confirmed that permanent positions for graduating house officers were not guaranteed.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam reportedly said last October that offering contract housemanship would help about 2,600 graduate doctors on the waiting list every year, saying that they could wait for up to a year because there were not enough permanent positions.

– See more at: http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/psd-confirms-no-permanent-spot-in-public-hospitals-for-scholars#sthash.UYFxAzZA.dpuf

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It’s been one and a half month since I last updated my blog. As I wrote in my last post, I was going for a long holiday after an hectic year dealing with IRB. Coming back from a long holiday is the worst nightmare. Clinic was packed to the brim, multiple medical reports to write and multiple reply letters to type. Then came Christmas, New Year and finally my hospitals MSQH audit which just ended today! Phew………

Unfortunately, doctors were in the limelight for the wrong reasons towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year. A daring expose by Al-Jazeera regarding baby selling syndicate in Malaysia on 24/11/2016 was a disaster for doctors. The faces of many doctors involved were clearly shown. Unfortunately this is nothing new. Many years ago, a similar syndicate was exposed and caught in Johor. The police acted swiftly and did manage to arrest few of the members of the syndicate that was exposed by Al Jazeera.

Just when we thought it was already damaging enough, came another exclusive expose from NST. Doctors venturing into unethical practices of cosmetic products. Frankly, this is nothing new as well. I have seen enough doctors practising what was exposed by the report. Injecting IV Vit C for whitening/anti ageing and many more so called aesthetic practices are common nowadays.  In 2012, MOH (tr-vitamin-c-injection) had already issued statement that there is NO evidence that IV Vit C has any benefit. In fact, ViT C is NOT approved by MOH for intravenous injections for cosmetic reasons. Anyone found doing it can be charged for unethical practice. Ozone therapy is another major complimentary medicine practise that doctors are widely involved. Way back in 2011, MMC had already issued a statement that ozone therapy do not provide any health benefit and any doctors found guilty of providing ozone therapy by claiming that it can cure diseases, can be charged for unethical practices. Unfortunately it did not prevent many doctors from doing it. In fact I even know nurses who are openly promoting such centres on Facebook and showing many VIPs who are taking their ozone treatment. Again, on 3/01/2017, our DG issued another press statement regarding ozone therapy. The press statement came after NST reported that many celebrities who were openly promoting ozone therapy for advertisement purposes expressed their regrets. I have heard of reports of people dying during the procedure and even developing cardiac and renal failure. It is not a procedure without complications.

The question is, why are doctors venturing into such practices? The answer is simple : money and survival! Since I started blogging in 2010, I had written several times regarding these issues. In fact in 2012, I wrote on how desperate have doctors become. That is the reality out there. No matter what passion that you talk about before going into medicine, at the end of the day, it all boils down to money and survival. There is no such thing as easy money or easy life in medicine. Many doctors especially GPs are struggling to survive. Thus, to keep their income and their clinic running, they venture into these unethical businesses.

I get a lot of query regarding aesthetic medicine etc. My reply has always been to ask yourself why you became a doctor! Is it to treat and cure people with sickness or to become a glorified beautician! Yes, there is a lot of money in aesthetic medicine. There are huge financial backup from big suppliers all over the world. Cosmetic and aesthetic suppliers are one of the largest companies in the world. The companies need doctors as doctors are the only people licensed to inject substance into a person! At the end, no doctor will do it if not paid well!

The situation will only get worst. My last article talked about the introduction of contract HO post with no guarantee of a permanent post. I had mentioned that those who do not get a permanent post will end up flooding the GP market. Imagine what will happen then. Issues mentioned above will only get worst day by day, in the name of survival. WE have to blame ourselves for loosing the respect and trust once given by the public. Worst still, many of these young doctors would have huge amount of debts to pay! As I had always said, never take huge loans to do medicine!

Well, it did not end there. Just when 2016 was coming to an end, 2 cases of botched circumcision were reported. Interestingly, the first clinic was reported as not having a  license to run! Interesting indeed if the report was true.

On the other end, MMC has now started their own qualification exam for those from unrecognised universities. It is now known as EPR (Exam for Provisional Registration). Is this a prelude for a common entry exam? Only time will tell……….  As the years pass by, almost everything I predicted is becoming a reality. God save this country……

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It’s getting very close for a release date…………………

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Well, it has been more than a week since I am back from Middle Earth. It was my 15 years dream of going to New Zealand after I first saw ” Fellowship of The Ring” of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in 2001. My first son was just 2 years old and I was earning a salary of only RM 2200 with a rented house. It took me almost 15 years to be able to visit Middle Earth with my whole family. My first son is now 15 years old! How fast time flies but eventually, I fulfilled my dream.

It was an hectic but worthwhile 12 days where I travelled from North to South island. Landed in Auckland, moving to Rotorua and Wellington before going to South Island. Driving in New Zealand is like being in another world. Sceneries and weather changes from one place to another. I drove from Picton to Christchurch to Dunedin to Te Anau to Milford Sound where I took a wonderful cruise of  the 8th Wonder of the World. Then I drove down to Queenstown where we spent 3 days before driving back to Christchurch. A day in Christchurch and we flew back to Singapore.

Despite being the beginning of summer, I could still see the snow topped mountains. Roads were beautiful with not a single pot hole over thousands of kilometres that I drove. Visiting Hobbiton brought back memories of seeing the Hobbits and the ” ring that ruled them all”.

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Well, I am back to work. In 2 days time I will be seeing the Millennium Falcon flying for the first time after 30 years! Bringing back my memories while I was still in school! The Force has awaken ……………..

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A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away there was a planet by the name of Pendora. As part of the transformation program, the Emperor of the planet Pendora decided in a typical “ Pendora Boleh” style to invite a well renowned academy from planet Uncle Samy to start an academy in Pendora. The academy supposes to train young padawans to become Jedis. These young padawans are enthusiastic lots who had always wanted to become a Jedi. The force, while is strong in them could not support their stint in another planet due to logistics and financial reasons.

The academy started with grand celebration as it suppose to send fears among the neighbouring planets which includes planet Tatooin, Dagobah as well as the grand empire of Capitol. The academy was promised a lot of goodies to establish themselves, including generous contribution from the Pendora’s government. A Jedi council was appointed to oversee the program, which was introduced for the first time in Pendora. The young padawans are trained for free.

3 years passed and Pendora started to get intertwined in a big controversy involving a mega scandal. Promises that was made to Uncle Samy’s partner was not fulfilled. Uncle Samy’s partner decides to leave the academy. The academy was caught off guard and decided to bring another Jedi trainer from another part of the same planet Uncle Samy.

While Pendora’s future remains hanging, the young padawans were promised a smooth transition to become a Jedi. The Jedi council kept a close watch as not to compromise the training. The Force and the power of the Dark side need to be kept at bay. One year after the controversy erupted, the first batch of Jedi apprentices graduated. Unfortunately, the academy faced another obstacle. The Jedi council decided not to recognise/accreditate the academy’s training. The Jedi council wary of the influence of the dark side. The council felt that the academy did not fulfil the requirement to train the young padawans, to prevent them from being influenced by the Dark side.

By this time, the force has awaken. The dark side of the force has started to influence the world of Jedis. Pendora’s academy was not the only one that has been producing Jedis’. Many more similar academies from various planets were producing the same. The Jedi’s, which were once considered the crème of the society, are now degraded to unemployable status. The protectors and peacekeepers of the galaxy are now jobless. The Jedi council took it for granted as the dark force died 30 years ago. Little did they expect such a situation. The young graduated Jedis are now being asked to sit for the Jedi Council’s special exams to test their knowledge and mental strength. 6 months has passed with no answer !

Will the unemployed Jedi’s become the next Dark side of the force?

“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to Anger. Anger leads to Hate. Hate leads to Suffering”

Master Yoda’s quote that still lingers in the minds of the Jedi Council. Will the fear of un-employability of the young Jedis, turn to anger and eventually to the dark side?

The Force has awaken………………. The frustrated Jedis are bound to turn to the dark side. Only time will tell……………

Disclaimer:

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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When a university up north became very ambitious and decided to run 5 medical programs ( the first in the world), I cautioned many students that it is not viable and not to fall into a trap. IN 2012 , I wrote THIS and THIS. However, students being students, they will take whatever offer as long as they do not need to pay anything. Thus, the so-called ” scholarship” that was offered by this college attracted many middle-income parents to send their children. Unfortunately, what I feared most happened last year. As I wrote over HERE , HERE and HERE, the college finally closed down and all it’s students were forced to transfer to another MMC accredited university. Some ended up repeating their years. The UKM degree students were absorbed into UKM. So, what happened to the loan promised by this college? I understood then, that the college were offering almost free tuition fee as you will receive RM 150K from PTPTN and the balance will be paid by a collaboration with Maybank. This fund paid by Maybank suppose to be a convertible loan, informed to many as “scholarship”. Many did not realise that they are going to end up with a huge loan. I had always said that doing medicine by taking a huge loan does not make any economic sense. While the students have been transferred to other colleges, Maybank is now going after their loan. I attach a letter from Maybank to a student asking them to pay back the loan already paid to the college. So, now you are in debt even before you graduate!

Malaysia is probably one of the very few countries where their people go into debt to make someone else rich! A private college gets its money from PTPTN loan and many more scholarship/loans from MARA, JPA etc. Most of these loans are paid back by the students but the college can go laughing to their banks! Education should never be commercialised. Another interesting fact has emerged recently. As you are aware that the government has slashed PTPTN loan amount by about 15% for private colleges and 5% for public universities except for medicine (which will be a maximum of about Rm 150K). This has resulted in many private college’s intake reducing. The minimum entry qualifications introduced in 2011 had also gradually reduced the number of medical students in many private medical schools. A research done by a think-tank group revealed that close to 45% of private colleges do not have sufficient assets to cover their liabilities. It also said that close to 35% of private colleges and 41% of universities have bigger debts than their total assets, technically insolvent! This may affect close to 120 000 students!

There are many medical colleges which are facing enrolment problems. The MMC’s guideline and the cost of medical program has prohibited many students from entering medical course. The recent issues concerning possible unemployment of future doctors has also opened the eyes of many people. Medicine is no more a guaranteed future and money! I know a foreign university branch campus which is struggling to even get more than 100 students as the chances of their graduates getting an internship post overseas are very slim. This resulted in them not being able to recruit foreign students. A major administrative restructuring will happen soon.

I believe this could be a blessing in disguise. I had expected that some of the medical schools will close shop sooner or later. With the demise of AUCMS resulting in 5 medical programs closing shop, I also heard that UniKL’s twinning program with an Indian university will also close it’s doors. I also know that MMC has asked some of the medical schools which had intention to start twinning programs with overseas universities to postpone/terminate the idea.

I just hope our general public will realise that being a doctor does not guarantee anything. MMC being a corporatised body under MOH after the Medical Act was amended in 2012 will soon increase their fees. A recent letter was circulated to all organisation regarding their proposed fee hike as shown below. I did mention about this last year. Worth to mention that the fee for sitting MQE examination will also be increased to RM 2500 from RM 200. Please also note that you need to pay RM 500 for Certificate of Good Standing ! A specialist will pay RM 300 for APC and RM 300 for specialist registration per year. I wonder whether this will apply for government doctors as well? Hopefully they will revise some of it after feedback. All doctors will also need certain minimum CME points for APC renewal( I heard 10 points per year and 20points per year for specialist) as well as a compulsory Indemnity Insurance.

Well, the world is changing and the cost of living will only increase further. Never take huge loan to do medicine. Never forget that many more loans will come along the way after you graduate. Life will never get any easier…………..

New rules squeezing private colleges of funds, says think tank
Published: 6 April 2015 11:02 AM

The Alliance University College of Medical Sciences (AUCMS) in Kepala Batas, Penang, which closed down to shortage of funds. The Penang Institute warns that more private colleges may have to close down. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, April 6, 2015.
The Alliance University College of Medical Sciences (AUCMS) in Kepala Batas, Penang, which closed down to shortage of funds. The Penang Institute warns that more private colleges may have to close down. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, April 6, 2015.
The Penang Institute in Kuala Lumpur has warned that some 70% of private higher education institutions can see red this year, following changes in funding rules.

The think tank said based on data from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), 45% of private universities and university colleges have insufficient assets to cover their current liabilities.

Around 71% are below the market average in terms of sufficient assets cover while SSM data also showed that 28 private varsities, or 46% of those reported, made year-on-year losses in the 2013 fiscal year.

Penang Institute said finances were further tightened starting November last year when cuts were made to the public loans system for higher education or National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) by Putrajaya.
PTPTN loans were cut by 5% for public universities and 15% for private universities. Loans for medical courses were unchanged.

“According to estimates by the Penang Institute using the SSM data, these changes would lead to 69.2% of private varsities falling into the red in the coming year.

“Around 76.2% of university colleges and three-quarters of the foreign branch campus could see their finances in negative territory due to these changes.

“Around 120,000 students are currently enrolled in those private varsities facing financial stress and this could rise to 215,000 students, or 44.5% of total private sector enrolment, due to funding changes according to the research,” Penang Institute said in a statement today.

The think tank cited Allianze University College of Medical Sciences (AUCMS), which had around 2,000 students and 500 staff, as an example. The medical school had to close due to financial problems.

The Masterskill Education Group Berhad, which owns the Asia Metropolitan University, has also been a case of financial squeeze, it said.

The group saw its share price fall from RM4.24 in August 2010 to a low of RM0.30 in May 2014, before recovering only to RM0.62 last month following restructuring and changes in its management and share ownership.

Penang Institute’s study looked into 41 private universities, eight foreign branch campuses and 27 university colleges.

At least two university colleges were upgraded to university status in recent months, but both are in the “financially stressed” group.

The revelations come as the National Higher Education Sector Blueprint 2015-2025 is set to be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tomorrow.
Penang Institute’s general manager Dr Ong Kian Ming (pic, right) said the preliminary blueprint released by the Education Ministry for public feedback appeared to largely focus on the public higher education institutions.

“The fact that the private higher education sector was largely ignored is a serious omission given that almost half of the total enrolment in post-secondary education are in private universities, university colleges and colleges.

“In our recent comprehensive study to examine the organisational structure and financial sustainability of 41 private universities, eight foreign branch campuses and 27 university colleges in Malaysia, we found serious implications on the overall health and sustainability of the private higher education sector in Malaysia,” he said.

Ong, who is also Serdang MP, said the think tank would release a series of statements over the next few days to highlight some of the other important findings from the study.

“The complete report will be released at a later date at a public forum where the authors of the report will present their findings and invited panellists will be asked to comment on this report and the National Higher Education Sector Blueprint 2015-2025,” he added. – April 6, 2015.

– See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/new-rules-squeezing-private-colleges-of-funds-says-think-tank#sthash.9YrohBsN.dpuf

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