PSM: Kudos for willing to help struggling student, but find long-term solution

PSM has lauded DAP lawmaker Lim Lip Eng for offering to help an undergraduate who is juggling four part-time jobs.

However, its deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan (photo) said Pakatan Harapan MPs must also find long-term solutions to the structural problems, which have created this situation.

“While I support his goodwill and proactive move... The issue is why is tertiary education so expensive?” he asked.

Arutchelvan then listed several more questions which centred on the poor support system for such students and low wages, which forced a person to hold multiple jobs to make ends meet.

Therefore, he hoped Lim, being an MP from the ruling party, would look into the structural issues and push for the necessary policy changes.

“She (the student) is lucky as her case got highlighted. Imagine the many who are denied this opportunity,” he added.

Lim became aware of Ong Ke Shing's (photo) plight after it was highlighted in a recent documentary.

The Kepong MP said although tertiary students are, generally, expected to work part-time for their daily expenses and education fees, the 22-year-old's routine as a Universiti Malaya Sports Science student was an exception.

He also urged other students in his constituency, who are facing a similar predicament, to approach him.

Lim said those who wished to assist Ong and other deserving students could also contact his office and discuss possibilities of providing them with full or partial scholarships.

Ong was the subject of a short nine-minute film called “Clocked Out”, made by her fellow UM student Walli Khalik who intended to focus on the financial struggles students face to make ends meet.

On average, Ong works about 60 hours a week as a survey conductor, a sports masseuse, a bar waitress and a fitness instructor.

She has also been working since Form 5 to save up for her tertiary education.