PSD Refers To A-G 44 Medical Students Who Remain Abroad

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- The Public Service Department (PSD) has referred to the Attorney General (A-G)'s Office the case of 44 PSD sponsored medical students who failed to return after completing their studies overseas.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum said the students did not apply to defer their return to Malaysia adding that their act violated the terms of agreement with the PSD.
"The government has agreed to allow students to stay back for between one and four years but with permission from the PSD and on several conditions," he said in reply to a question by Tay Puay Chuan at the Dewan Negara Thursday.
He said the conditions, among others, was that the students were pursuing studies at a higher level or waiting for their spouses to complete their studies or training.
After which, he added, the students would be required to return home and to register their names with the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) to facilitate their appointment in the civil service.
There were 264 Malaysian medical students abroad who did not return after completing their studies. They were among 165 students whose applications to stay back were rejected.
Mohd Johari said government-sponsored students who failed to return after completing their studies would have to pay back all the cost incurred which included for their study fees, allowance and flight tickets.
"Previously in 2003, such students will be fined RM160,000 but now they will have to pay for all the costs, including allowance.
"For example, the cost of studying medicine in Ireland is almost RM1 million, as such they will have to pay that amount," he added.