ASEAN Pre-University Scholarship 2006/2007 (Provisional)

All right, I think you can guess about what I'm going to write, right? If you think that I've applied for the ASEAN Pre-U Scholarship for the term 2006/2007, you are not wrong, and if you believe that I'd been shortlisted and selected for the Selection Tests in KL, you are on the right track. But, if you have been thinking that I've got the provisional scholarship offer, you are right!

It's only a provisional offer, because I'd applied for the scholarship using my SPM trial exam results. A provisional scholarship is awarded to me but the entire scholarship is not confirmed until my SPM results are issued. However, I shall already be starting my GCE "A" Levels in January.

Oh, I forgot to mention that this ASEAN Pre-U Scholarship enables me to take up "A" Levels in one of Singapore's top Junior Colleges. The scholarship is awarded by the Ministry of Education of Singapore, and it is tenable for only two years. There is no bond for the scholarship.

I received the letter of offer on the 22nd of December, but before that I've already decided to, sadly, turn down the offer, due to certain reasons.

The scholarship entitles me to study in Singapore for ONLY two years to complete my "A" Levels there and everything that is required for me to study there is subsidised by the Singaporean Government. However, after completing my "A" Levels, I shall be a free man; I can go anywhere I want. There is no continuity at all for the scholarship from "A" Levels till university level. After completing my "A" Levels, it is either that i fork out my parents' money to enrol me in a private university or apply for the NUS or NTU scholarship, but there is no guarantee that you will get the NUS or NTU scholarship!

So what if I don't get it? Then, I cannot come back to Malaysia to enrol into a local university! Private universities are not my options.

The MOE of Singapore did not give us a specific guildeline about what pre-requisites are needed to be eligible to apply for the scholarships at university level. This uncertainty can or may jeopardise my future if I accept the ASEAN Pre-U scholarship, which seemed to be a good offer.

Besides, if I go for STPM in Malaysia, and upon completing it, I could still apply for scholarships from universities and if I can't get any one of them, at least I could still secure a seat in one of the local universities here. I needn't pay so much then for my higher education. Besides, doing "A" Levels in Singapore is similar to doing STPM locally.

Therefore, I have faxed in my letter of rejection which was enclosed with the contract to the MOE of Singapore. There's one thing that I admire about the Singaporean Government.

A few days ago, my friend asked me to help him enquire if he was offered the ASEAN scholarship. I telephoned the MOE of Singapore and asked them. The lady on the other line was very polite and gently she asked me to telephone back to her in half an hour's time because she had to check the list of successful applicants. I told her my name, and return she told me to ask for "Ms. Kong Sin" later regarding "the ASEAN Pre-U Scholarship".

So, half an hour later, I telephoned back, and another lady answered the phone. This was the conversation:

MOE officer: Hello, good evening. This is the Ministry of Education. How may I help you?
Guo Zheng: Hello, good evening. May I speak to Ms. Kong Sin, please?
MOE officer: May I know who is on the line, and what is it regarding, please?
Guo Zheng: My name is Henry, and it is regarding the "ASEAN Pre-U Scholarship".
MOE officer: Are you calling from overseas?
Guo Zheng: Yes, I am calling from Malaysia.
MOE officer: Please hold the line.

(After a while...)

MOE officer: All right, I'll put you through. Please hold the line.
Guo Zheng: Thank you.

(After a while...)

Ms. Kong Sin: Hello, Henry. I'm sorry, but your friend is not in our list of successful applicants.
Guo Zheng: Oh...
Ms. Kong Sin: However, I cannot be so certain, because I do not have enough information.
Guo Zheng: Oh?
Ms. Kong Sin: Yes, do you have his Index Number?
Guo Zheng: Alas! I don't have it, and he didn't tell me his Index Number; he's now in Thailand.
Ms. Kong Sin: I see, but from your information given to me, he's not in the list.
Guo Zheng: It's OK. I know he'll understand. Thank you very much.
Ms. Kong Sin: You're very welcome, and have a nice day. Goodbye!

There you have it. Courtesy was always ensured, regardless of whether the telephone call was from one of their citizens or overseas. And punctuality is always assured. When they say half an hour's time, you can be sure that you will get the desired reply after half an hour's time. Such effectiveness impressed me very much (*thinking of local government departments and the experience that I went through*).

This morning, I faxed my letter of rejection to the MOE of Singapore and I telephoned them to confirm that my letter of rejection has been received. In the letter, it asked me to telephone Madam Ng or Miss Ng to confirm that my fax has been received clearly. And I had another telephone conversation with one of the MOE officers, who was also a lady.

MOE officer: Good morning. This is the Ministry of Education.
Guo Zheng: Good morning, may I speak to Madam Ng or Miss Ng please?
MOE officer: Oh, I'm sorry. Both Madam Ng and Ms. Ng are currently busy. I'm Ms. Tan. Is it regarding the ASEAN Scholarship?
Guo Zheng: Yes, it is.
Ms. Tan: Oh, it's all right. I can take over them for you. Is there anything I can help you?
Guo Zheng: Oh, yes! Could you please confirm with me whether you have received my fax?
Ms. Tan: OK, what is your name please?
Guo Zheng: My name is Yew Guo Zheng.
Ms. Tan: Please hold on, while I check the facsimile machine.
Guo Zheng: All right, thank you.

(After a while...)

Ms. Tan: Yew Guo Zheng...
Guo Zheng: Yes, that's me.
Ms. Tan: (Sounds unsure...) You have sent in the letter of rejection...
Guo Zheng: Yes, I have. It's Annex B, right?
Ms. Tan: Yes, so you're rejecting the scholarship?
Guo Zheng: Yes, I am.
Ms. Tan: OK, thank you very much for filling in the form and providing us with your reason of rejecting the offer.
Guo Zheng: You're welcome and thanks for offering me the scholarship.
Ms. Tan: You're welcome, thank you and have a nice day. Bye!
Guo Zheng: Bye!

There... I'm greatly impressed by the way they handle matters. Although it is clearly not their duty or responsibility to answer me, they have taken the intiative to help other colleagues who are extremely occupied. They even offered to take over their colleagues' responsibilities for a while, as not to anger the caller. Such effectiveness in the government departments ensures that their country develops quickly. Even when I called the wrong department, they did not transfer my line here and there (which happened once to me when I called a local government department, much to my annoyance) but offered to help me if possible, too. This keeps the people satisfied and happy.

All I can say to the MOE of Singapore is, "Well done!"