The following is a statement from Member of Parliament for Klang, Ganabatirao Veraman on the future of high scoring students in the country. It has been published in its entirety.
The results of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2024 have brought pride and celebration to thousands of Malaysian families. This year, a remarkable 14,000 students achieved straight A’s—a testament to their hard work, discipline, and the support from their families and schools. However, while these numbers are impressive, they also raise an important and urgent question: *What is the government’s plan to ensure these high-achieving students have access to quality higher education opportunities?*
Malaysia has long prided itself on its education system being a ladder to success. Yet each year, top SPM scorers face increasing uncertainty about the next steps in their academic journey. Limited placements in public universities, the highly competitive nature of scholarships, and the rising cost of private education threaten to derail the aspirations of many promising students—especially those from B40 and rural communities.
The nation must ask itself: **Are we prepared to support the ambitions of our brightest minds, or will we continue to let talent slip through the cracks due to systemic limitations?**
We urge the Ministry of Higher Education and related agencies to be transparent about their plans for the 2024 SPM cohort. **There must be a significant increase in the number of seats in local public universities, especially in high-demand and competitive programs such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, law, and other preferred fields.** It is not acceptable to offer placements in unrelated or less desired courses as a form of consolation. These students have earned the right to pursue their aspirations in the fields they are passionate about and have clearly demonstrated the academic capacity to succeed in.
At the same time, we must not forget the many other students who did not obtain straight A’s but have the drive, determination, and potential to succeed. The government must ensure there are multiple pathways—be it through diploma programs, community colleges, foundation studies, or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)—so that every student is given the opportunity to grow, improve, and contribute to the nation’s future. No student should be left behind.
Malaysia’s future depends on how we nurture our youth. These 14,000 straight-A students are not just statistics; they are potential doctors, engineers, teachers, researchers, and leaders. If we fail to guide and support them now, we risk not only individual heartbreaks but also a collective loss of national potential.
The government owes it to these students—and to the future of Malaysia—to provide clear answers, immediate solutions, and long-term commitment. Let’s turn this achievement into a springboard for inclusive, accessible, and excellent higher education for all.
The time to act is now.