The Singapore Straits Times 5th May 2001

She could not get a place in the Malaysian universities to study medicine, her choice course, and is now hoping to gain admission to NUS

PENANG - A straight-A student in Penang, whose hopes of becoming a doctor were dashed when she was denied a place to study medicine, is now hoping to fulfil her childhood ambition by studying at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Ms Loh Yee Leng, who scored straight As in the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) examination, which is the equivalent of the A levels, said she has been offered a place to study industrial biology at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) near Kuala Lumpur.

She has always wanted to be a doctor.

The eldest of four siblings, Ms Loh, 21, appealed to the Education Ministry on Thursday to consider her application to study medicine.She said her father, who is a fishmonger, could not afford to send her to a private college to pursue a degree in medicine.

'It will cost about half a million ringgit,' said Ms Loh at a press conference by Penang MCA Public Service and Complaints Bureau head Ooi Chuan Aik here on Thursday.

The Penang Chinese Girls' High School student had scored 4 As in the STPM in biology, chemistry, mathematics and the general paper. She had applied to study medicine at Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

But her hopes were dashed when she failed to secure a seat in the medical faculties of any of the four universities.

Another straight-A student, Ms Yip Wah Kuen, 20, who applied for medicine and pharmacy, said she checked the Internet on Tuesday for her results and found that she had been offered a place to study business agriculture at UPM.

'The course was not among any of my five choices and I really don't know what to do as I have no interest in it,' said Ms Yip, a former Chung Ling Secondary School student, who is also appealing against the decision.

Both students have applied to NUS and are awaiting replies which are due in July.

Also at the press conference were 3 A students - Mr Thum Hok Yen, Ms Tan Huey Yih and Ms Lim Ying Ying - who were offered courses which were not among their five choices.

Mr Thum and Ms Tan had also put medicine as their top choice but were offered environmental technology and management and rehabilitation of biodiversity respectively at the Terengganu University College.

Ms Lim, who wanted to study pharmacy at USM, was offered business agriculture at UPM instead.

Mr Ooi said he would appeal to the Education Ministry, saying that cases of good students being rejected cropped up annually despite complaints in the past. --The Star/AsiaNews Network