PAS views on PTPTN contradicts PKR’s

 

(Malaysian Digest) – PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) should not be abolished as it will not resolve the problem of students who cannot afford higher education, reported The New Straits Times.

He said there was a need for a fair process that would not burden either students or communities. 

Hadi’s view is another indication of the conflicting stand on issues among parties in Pakatan Rakyat, mainly PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

It also contradicts the stand of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR, which had called for PTPTN to be abolished. Anwar had also said that Petronas funds could be used to write off the RM43 billion loans owed to PTPTN since 1999.

Several PAS leaders had said the proposal to abolish PTPTN was not discussed by Pakatan Rakyat and was merely PKR’s decision. Hadi, in an interview with a Malay tabloid on Saturday, said in Islam, those who had the means should make it their responsibility to help the poor.

Hadi said education must result in productive human capital. “Therefore, PTPTN loans cannot be abolished just like that. There has to be a process that is just and fair and will not burden the poor. The rich must bear the responsibility.”

PAS central working committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad had said that abolishing PTPTN was not a Pakatan policy and there was no unanimous stand on it.

The Kuala Selangor MP said it was “the aspirations of a particular party and individuals”.

Dzulkefly said in principle, PAS went along with the idea but added the issue would be subjected to a decision-making process before it became a Pakatan policy.