As a child in the early 1980s, he saw firsthand police at work in fighting off the last remnants of the communist threat in Raub, Pahang.
Several doses of Jackie Chan’s Police Story series later, he decided that his calling is to fight crime and keep the peace.
Unfortunately, after graduating with a degree, Soo Pak Leong is denied his dream despite repeated attempts to sign up.
Now at age 27, he is too old to be considered by the police force.
Soo’s problem was simple - his degree, a Bacher of Science from Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) is not recognised by the Public Service Department.
The department determines academic qualifications that are recognised by the government sector.
“I have a strong urge to join, but the system does not allow me,” Soo told reporters at a press conference at DAP Selangor headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
Three attempts
While not angry at the government, Soo is “frustrated” and “very very disappointed.”
He has applied three times to join the police, taken his case to numerous departments and had even aired his grievances on radio earlier this year.
His is not an unique case, said DAP Selangor secretary Lau Weng San.
“It’s another disappointing scenario when the government and MCA have been urging the Chinese to join the police force and yet we have this case where Soo was turned down,” he said.
Lau blamed the MCA youth education bureau for not trying hard enough to get Soo into the police force.
TARC was established in 1969 by the MCA. The Chinese-majority party partly funds the college.
Soo’s first applied for the cadet assistant superintendent of police in 2004. He was 24. It was rejected with no reasons given.
He tried again the following year, again with no reply. Before Soo reached the ceiling age of 25, he tried again, this time for the Inspector post.
Disturbing question
This time, Bukit Aman replied and said that his qualifications was not recognised. After further enquiries, the PSD concurred.
Lau said the MCA has to answer one disturbing question. Why are TARC qualifications not recognised by the government. Their graduates used to have great career prospects in the private sector,” said Lau.
Referring to MCA’s attempts to get recognition for degrees from two universities in China, Peking University and Qin Hua University, he said the party should not abandon its college at home when thousands of TARC students are not recognised.
Meanwhile, Soo described his current job, a network engineer, as “so far, so good.”
Asked if he would still join the police force if given the opportunity, he replied, “For sure I would. I know that police work is where I can fully utilise my passion and knowledge.”
“But I just want to let other people know, especially Chinese parents, that if their children want to join the government service, they should go through STPM first and check with the PSD,” he added.
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