KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 09 Bernama
-- Nur Amalina Che Bakri, the top performer in the 2004 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, has not failed in her tertiary studies and is still at Edinburgh University.
Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the ministry had not received any information pertaining to rumours that Nur Amalina had failed in her studies and was no longer studying in the United Kingdom.
"Normally, those studying abroad are excellent students and receive scholarships, but if they fail in their studies, their sponsors will be the first to know," he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.
"However, we will try to get information on what actually happened," he added when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2010 at the committee level for his ministry.
The issue over Nur Amalina was raised by Zulkifli Nordin (PKR-Kulim-Bandar Baru) during the debate.
However, after Saifuddin gave his reply, Zulkifli informed the House that he had received the latest information from Nur Amalina's university mate at Edinburgh that the girl had never failed in her studies, but was in fact among the top in the field of Pharmacology with Industrial Experience.
Nur Amalina, 22, created a record in the SPM when she scored 17 A1s.
She was then sponsored by Bank Negara to study medicine in the United Kingdom.
According to Wikipedia, she has just completed her second year and was offered by the university to pursue an intercalated degree in Pharmacology with Industrial Experience due to her excellent results.
This means she will get a double degree (MBChB and B Med Sc) by the end of her medical course.
She will continue with her third-year medical course after completing the intercalated degree programme.
