Take on the MMC, PKR man tells MIC

Party should initiate measures to put pressure on the medical council to drop its racist policies and re-recognise Crimea State Medical University's degree courses.

PETALING JAYA: The MIC should intervene and address the double standard practised by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), Health Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry with regards to students pursuing medical degrees abroad.

Malacca PKR vice president G Rajendran said that, MIC must put pressure its ‘big brother’ Umno to stop MMC’s race-based policies.

Citing the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU), in Ukraine which has been de-recognised by the MMC, Rajendran said the MIC should fight for the affected Indian medical students.

“Despite, the mainstream media having exposed the wrongdoings of MMC on CSMU’s de-regcognition, MIC has kept mum on this issue,” said Rajendran.

“It is already been seven years and the MMC is unwillingly to re-recognise the university and unfortunately, the MIC also ignoring the issue,” he added.

CSMU is an established university which conducts medical degree courses for about RM120,000.

Nearly 1,000 Malaysian students of Indian origin have graduated from the university since 1997 until it was dropped from the list of recognised universities by the MMC in June 2005.

Former MIC vice president S Sothinathan was temporarily suspended from his post of Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister for criticising the government over the matter.

MIC former president S SamyVellu also described the MMC decision as a move to prevent more Indians from becoming doctors.

Offshore programmes

The MMC made a visit to CSMU from Oct 17 to Oct 21 after the Cabinet directed the council to resolve the matter.

Rajendran alleged that the visit was just an ‘eye wash’ and why the council took such a long time to give its feedback as it has been two months since the visit.

He said, in 2010, it took just weeks for MMC to give the green light to a local university, Lincoln University College (LUC), to run offshore programmes in three universities in Ukraine.

The three were Ternopil State Medical University, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University and Ivano Frankivsk National Medical University.

It is learnt that LUC was the only local university to get an approval from MMC to run offshore programmes in unrecognised universities.

The decision left a large group parents fuming, who claimed that LUC stands to rake in millions with the blessing of MMC.

It is reported that the actual cost of completing a medical degree in Ukraine is between RM120,000 and RM130,000.

But with Lincoln being the intermediary, the price will now escalate to nearly RM200,000.

“So, where is the transparency in MMC? And why is MIC still being silent on a matter as serious as this?” asked Rajendran.

MMC secretary must be sacked

Rajendran also highlighted the fact that Malaysian students studying at 11 medical schools in China are one step closer to getting full recognition from the MMC.

“Despite, the Chinese community being overlooked by the MCA in the 2008 general election, the party has kept on fighting for the rights of their community.

“But, here MIC is more interested and preoccupied with party internal fights and the welfare of the leaders’ families,” he added.

Rajendran also suggested that the MIC urge the Federal Government to sack MMC secretary Dr Wan Maslan Mohamed Woojdy.

He cited an e-mail sent by Wan Maslan to the CSMU administration on June 25, 2005 asking for details of Malaysian students in the Ukrainian university.

“In his e-mail Wan Maslan asked the university to provide the race of all Malaysian students in the university. This is a bit weird.

“What good is this going to do. So what if students studying there are Chinese, Indian or Malay… they are all Malaysians,” said Rajendran.

“This evidence enough to take action against Wan Maslan. But the MIC has no guts to step in and initate action against the MMC and Wan Maslan.”

MMC secretary Wan Maslan could not be contacted for comment.