THE Health Ministry has explained that it had waived the pass in SPM Bahasa Melayu requirement for doctors so as to admit into service a small group of candidates who had grown up and graduated abroad.

Health Minister Dr S. Subramaniam said many had misunderstand the issue when in fact, the requirement was relaxed to allow 23 children of Malaysian diplomats to undergo training here.

“This small group of 23 candidates grew up abroad as children of diplomats.They were schooled in a different education system from ours.

“They obtained their medical degrees abroad but when they came back to Malaysia, they found they had to sit for the BM examination to fulfil the requirement.

“There were 23 of them and 11 were Malay,” he said during a press conference in Putrajaya today.

The dropping of the requirement for medical graduates seeking employment in government service sparked outrage and protests among activists. – July 5, 2017. 

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