PKR man hits out at Ibrahim over PTPTN issue

How can the government go bankrupt by absorbing RM43 billion to cover PTPTN loans?

PETALING JAYA: A PKR leader today lashed out at Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali over his statement that doing away with the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans would result in the country going bankrupt.

Calling Ibrahim, who is also Pasir Mas member of parliament, “senile”, R Suresh Kumar, the personal aide to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, said Ibrahim was making unwanted and misleading statements in order to get a ticket to contest under the Barisan Nasional banner at the upcoming general election.

“Since he has lost support both from BN and Pakatan Rakyat…he is now trying to get back into the good books of the BN. He wants to be seen as supporting the BN so that they would give him a seat to contest,” said Suresh Kumar.

Ibrahim on Saturday claimed that the country would be bankrupt if the government abolishes PTPTN loans. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had also said that the abolishment of the loans would result in the government forking out RM43 billion to cover losses.

Najib was reported to have said that todate a total 1.9 million students had taken PTPTN loans worth RM43.6 billions.

“However, Najib has not elaborated that the RM43 billion is not for one year but for the last 15 years,” said Suresh.

He said on an annual average the government only spent about RM3 billion for the loan.

“Why is the federal government hesitant to abolish this loans when its annual income is more than RM150 billion? Do not forget that the Auditor-General’s report stated that leakage in government spending alone amounted to RM21 billion,” he said.

The PTPTN education loan became a public issue after Anwar claimed that Pakatan Rakyat would write off PTPTN loans if he came to power after the next general election.