Chong files emergency motion in Parliament to debate SPM top scorers denied matriculation spots

KUCHING (July 9): Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has submitted an emergency motion in Parliament today requesting a debate on the issue of students who failed to be accepted into matriculation programmes despite scoring at least 10As in the recent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations.

In his motion, Chong pointed out that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had on June 30 publicly announced that SPM candidates who scored at least 10As would be offered a place in matriculation programmes.

“However, when the intakes of the matriculation programmes were published a few days later, many students who had scored 10As and above were not accepted into the matriculation programmes, shattering their hopes,” he said.

He added that this latest development has caused disappointment to the top students and their parents.

Chong said although the Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek had assured that the prime minister’s promise would be carried out, such verbal assurance has yet to translate into the ministry’s action to resolve the issue and this has resulted in a trust deficit on the credibility of the government.

“Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Parliament to discuss this specific matter of urgency which concerns the general public to quickly seek a resolution of the problem and accord these top students their rightful places in matriculation programmes,” said Chong.