POST 1 - Why is UniSZA law course not recognised by the Bar?

Published by ©The Star Newspapers on July 23, 2012

IN the results of admission to public universities released recently, my daughter was offered a place to study law at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA).

I was quite happy at first but my daughter cried the whole day. I was shocked by her reaction, as I had always thought that a law qualification was desirable.

So as a mother I asked her about her sadness. Was the university campus too far for her to leave home? It is situated in Kuala Terengganu.

Her answer gave me much thought and pause. She said after checking the results through the official website, she was told that the course was not recognised by the Bar Council.

She immediately checked the official websites of the Bar Council and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. It was found that the course was only accredited and recognised by the MQA but not the Bar Council.

That means my daughter cannot do her chambering directly upon her graduation. I don’t really understand why a situation like this can happen.

Other public universities such as UM, UKM and UUM offering the same four-year programme have been recognised by the Bar Council and their graduates do not have to sit for a Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP). Why can’t UniSZA be the same?

We respect the placement arranged by the authorities, but why isn’t every student graduating from the public universities be treated the same? I thought the Government was striving hard to enhance the quality of public universities?

My daughter is very worried about her future now. As a mother, I can do nothing but to comfort her feelings.

If this phenomenon persists, there will be more and more complaints each year as most students will give priority to renowned universities like UM and UKM, as they lack confidence in other public universities. Then there will be reports of excellent students not obtaining their preferred courses and universities.

I believe the quality of all local universities is good. So, please take some concrete measures to ensure that public universities are treated and considered equitably.

WONG LEE KUAN

Penang

SOURCE: http://www.thestar.com.my/story.aspx?file=%2f2012%2f7%2f23%2ffocus%2f11712210&sec=focus

 

BAHASA MALAYSIA TRANSLATION (via Google Translate)

Mengapa kursus undang-undang UniSZA tidak diiktiraf oleh Peguam?

DALAM keputusan kemasukan ke universiti-universiti awam yang dikeluarkan baru-baru ini, anak perempuan saya telah ditawarkan tempat untuk belajar undang-undang di Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA).

Saya agak gembira pada mulanya tetapi anak perempuan saya menangis sepanjang hari. Saya terkejut dengan reaksi beliau, kerana saya sentiasa memikirkan bahawa kelayakan undang-undang adalah wajar.

Jadi sebagai seorang ibu saya ditanya tentang kesedihan beliau. Telah kampus universiti terlalu jauh untuk dia meninggalkan rumah? Ia terletak di Kuala Terengganu.

Jawapannya memberikan saya banyak berfikir dan berhenti seketika. Beliau berkata selepas memeriksa keputusan melalui laman web rasmi, dia diberitahu bahawa kursus itu tidak diiktiraf oleh Majlis Peguam.

Dia segera memeriksa laman web rasmi Majlis Peguam dan Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia. Ia telah mendapati bahawa kursus itu hanya diiktiraf dan diiktiraf oleh MQA tetapi tidak Majlis Peguam.

Ini bermakna anak perempuan saya tidak boleh lakukan dalam kamar beliau secara langsung selepas tamat pengajian beliau. Saya tidak faham mengapa keadaan seperti ini boleh berlaku.

Universiti-universiti awam yang lain seperti UM, UKM dan UUM menawarkan program yang sama empat tahun telah diiktiraf oleh Majlis Peguam dan graduan mereka tidak perlu menduduki Sijil Amalan Guaman (CLP). Mengapa tidak boleh UniSZA sama?

Kami menghormati penempatan diatur oleh pihak berkuasa, tetapi mengapa tidak setiap pelajar menamatkan pengajian di universiti-universiti awam dirawat yang sama? Saya fikir kerajaan telah berusaha keras untuk meningkatkan kualiti universiti awam?

Anak perempuan saya adalah sangat bimbang tentang masa depan dia sekarang. Sebagai seorang ibu, saya boleh berbuat apa-apa tetapi untuk menenangkan perasaannya.

Jika fenomena ini berterusan, akan ada lebih banyak aduan setiap tahun kerana kebanyakan pelajar akan memberi keutamaan kepada universiti-universiti terkenal seperti UM dan UKM, kerana mereka tidak mempunyai keyakinan di universiti-universiti awam yang lain. Kemudian akan ada laporan pelajar cemerlang tidak mendapat kursus pilihan dan universiti mereka.

Saya percaya kualiti semua universiti-universiti tempatan adalah baik. Jadi, sila ambil langkah-langkah konkrit untuk memastikan bahawa universiti awam dilayan dan dianggap adil.

WONG LEE KUAN

Pulau Pinang