Rafizi: Only another RM3bil needed for free education

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli estimates that the government need only disburse an additional annual allocation of RM3 billion for all-inclusive free education.

He said the sum would cover students' cost of living allowance, the balance of the tuition fees paid by the current batch of public universities students and subsidies of equivalent amount for those in private universities.

He believed that the funds could come from abolishing tolled highway concessions as promised in the Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto.

"It would save the country about RM5 billion every year, as this is the amount of compensation paid by the Barisan Nasional government to highway concessionaires.

"The money is more than enough to cover the additional allocation of RM3 billion needed to provide the free education," Rafizi (right) said in a statement issued today.

The former Petronas senior manager also elaborated on the Pakatan proposal, saying that the plan included building more technical schools for interested school leavers and the setting up a specific fund for private higher education institution students.

"The government will provide cost of living allowances for students in public institutions who are qualified, based on their academic achievements and socio-economic background," he said.

For those from high-income families unable to meet the academic qualifications, they have a choice of applying for interest-free loans from a new special fund set up for the purpose, he added.