PUTRAJAYA, May 29 — The Cabinet has been informed about the need for minor amendments to existing laws to resolve the parallel pathway issue, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
In today’s Cabinet meeting, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir provided feedback on the matter, with the Attorney-General’s Chambers also offering its legal perspective.
“Parallel pathway refers to the issue involving an overlap between the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) and the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC).
“The Cabinet was informed that some amendments to existing laws are needed, and this will be brought to the Cabinet meeting, InsyaAllah, next week,” he said during a press conference after the Cabinet meeting.
The Unity Government spokesman said details regarding the related Act will also be discussed next week.
The parallel pathway issue grabbed public attention when the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) requested Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to allow the admission of non-Bumiputera medical officers who wish to receive specialised training in cardiothoracic surgery, just as the institution accepts international students.
This followed the MMC’s rejection of the applications of four cardiothoracic surgeons to be listed in the National Specialist Register, as their Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in Cardiothoracic Surgery (FRCS Ed) was not recognised.
UiTM is the only local university offering a parallel pathway programme in collaboration with the National Heart Institute (IJN) in cardiothoracic surgery.
On May 27, Zambry said the parallel pathway issue would be resolved promptly, and a draft solution proposal had been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for review.
Discussions with the Health Ministry were recently held to find a solution involving legal aspects and issues related to the recognition of medical programmes offered at universities.
— Bernama
