6As but disabled M'sian Chinese boy denied place in local medical school

The plight of an 18-year old youth whose dream to become a doctor was dashed after being denied a pre-university place by the Education ministry, despite scoring six As in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination has caught the attention of PAS.

The Islamic party has urged the ministry to reevaluate its decision, saying Pua Jayson's experience "is not a new story in this country".

The application to enter matriculation by Jayson, who is physically disabled having been diagnosed with a condition termed Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy since age six, has been twice rejected by the ministry despite appeals from his mother Goh Eng Booy, 52.

Head of PAS's special secretariat on issues involving the disabled community Mohammad Faizal Che Yusof urged the authorities to give special attention to cases such as Jayson's.

"We urge the parties involved in the Education ministry to give special attention to such cases," Faizal said.

He cited Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) calling for access to education to all without discrimination.

He said the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 has also endorsed the said Article to abide by international standards.

"Any delay by the government in attending to cases such as this to ensure access to education for all persons with disabilities would only kill more talents among this community in the future," warned Faizal, a lawyer by profession who is visually impaired.


Source : Malaysia Chronicle , 14th June 2013