A DAP lawmaker has asked Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim whether the government would reconsider Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) longstanding promise to abolish the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan scheme.
Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong raised the issue during the Minister’s Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat on July 14.
Says young graduates need more support
According to Malaysiakini, Khoo first asked how the government could provide more assistance to young Malaysians, particularly those who had recently graduated from university.
He then brought up remarks made by Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz during the recent Johor state election campaign.
According to Khoo, Hafiz had criticised PH for promising to abolish PTPTN but failing to do so after becoming the government.
“How can we help them? Recently, the Johor Menteri Besar said during the state election that we had promised to abolish PTPTN.
But the government has not abolished it. This was what the Johor Menteri Besar said, even though the Higher Education Minister who oversees PTPTN is from Umno.”
Khoo then asked whether Anwar would reconsider abolishing the student loan scheme.
The supplementary question was raised during a discussion on how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could affect Malaysia’s economy.
Anwar says he will discuss the matter
Anwar appeared surprised by the question but said he would discuss the matter with members of the unity government.
He noted that the Johor Menteri Besar was also part of the unity government at the federal level.
“As for PTPTN, I will discuss it properly because the Johor Menteri Besar is also part of the unity government at the federal level.
“So, we will discuss it properly. We will also discuss the PTPTN issue with the Higher Education Minister (Zambry Abd Kadir),” he answered
PH’s PTPTN pledges have changed over the years
The promise to abolish PTPTN dates back to the 2013 general election, with Pakatan Rakyat, the coalition that preceded PH, promised to abolish PTPTN and introduce free higher education as part of its election manifesto.
The pledge was later revised for the 2018 general election, with PH instead promising to postpone PTPTN repayments for borrowers earning less than RM4,000.
During the 2022 general election, PH pledged to introduce targeted student loan forgiveness for borrowers from the B40 income group and those living in poverty.
Although BN and PH are partners in the federal unity government, both coalitions contested against each other in the recent Johor state polls.
BN won 48 of the 56 seats contested, an increase of eight seats compared with the 2022 state election, while PH secured the remaining eight seats, losing four of the 12 seats it previously held.
PH supporters have repeatedly criticised Anwar and the coalition over reforms and election promises that have yet to be implemented.
But some have said the limitations of governing under a unity government is the reason for delays in carrying out those measures.
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