Nine Sarawakian students gain entry to pre-U courses after successful appeal

KUCHING (July 26): Nine students have successfully secured places in matriculation programmes after their appeals are recently approved by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).

SUPP Public Complaint Bureau Chief Milton Foo said these nine students had approached the party for assistance since it announced on July 8 that it would help those unsuccessful applicants who scored 10As and above in the recent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination to appeal for pre-university (pre-U) spots.

“Since then, we have received numerous calls and WhatsApp messages from parents and students seeking assistance,” Foo told the reporters during a press conference at his office here yesterday.

“We also have enquiries from Sabah and other states but our main focus is on Sarawakians as we currently lack branches outside the state,” he disclosed.

According to him, out of the nine successful applicants, four were from Kuching, one from Sarikei, and two each from Sibu and Miri.

“The applications of seven other students are still pending but we have assured them not to give up as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has given his assurance on guaranteed placement for these SPM high-achievers,” said Foo.

“We have many good and smart students in Sarawak and we do not want to disappoint them. They are ambitious and keen to join these pre-university courses,” he said, adding that the bureau had shortlisted a considerable number of students with impressive academic records.

“We don’t simply give our word without honoring it. If a guarantee is mentioned, we must fulfill it to avoid disappointing the students,” he stressed.

Foo attributed the success to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also SUPP president, for their assistance in the appeal process.