By CHEW WAN YING, LAI PEI YEE and SIMON KHOO

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA - The new merit-based category of Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships from next year has received overwhelming support from various quarters.

MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was proof of the government's transparency and fairness in the distribution of scholarships.

He said that the MCA welcomed the move and with it, there would be no more dispute on the distribution of PSD scholarships.

On Saturday, Najib had said that the move was in tandem with the plan to limit the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination to 10 subjects for a more level playing field.

Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun felt that move was timely and would ensure that high achievers were rewarded for their hard work.

'It is a fantastic measure. This way no one will be left behind,' she said.

MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel, in lauding the move, said it would help remove existing mental barriers and prejudices regarding government policies. 'It indicates the PM's seriousness in realising the 1Malaysia concept,' he said.

MIC Education Bureau chief Prof Datuk Dr T. Marimuthu said that the move would also benefit the nation, which needed talent to contribute to its development.

Pokok Sena Umno secretary Ramli Mohd Yunos said the move would solve the problem of scholarship allocation faced by the country for years.

National Institute of Occu-pational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye called it a step in the right direction.

'The most deserving and the best of Malaysian students must be assisted to further their studies in the respective fields irrespective of race,' he said.

Secondary school-teacher Chia Siew Ping, 52, said that the move gave hope that merit was recognised but urged PSD to set up a selection board comprising of people from different races who were not politically affiliated to ensure transparency.

UKM lecturer Prof Madya Dr Faridah Ibrahim added that it was also vital for the system to be reviewed every six months.