MCA, MIC disagree with PTPTN freeze

But Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says it is fair while former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo says the move is not serious.

PETALING JAYA: Two Barisan Nasional component parties disagreed with the decision to freeze PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation) loans of new students enrolled at Selangor-owned Universiti Selangor (Unisel).

MCA Selangor chairman Donald Lim said that politics should not have come into the equation at the expense of students’ education and future.

“Whatever decision we make as the government should not take politics into consideration, but the students… we should prioritise children’s education and future,” he told FMT.

Asked if he was admitting that the government had made a mistake, the senator and deputy finance minister refused to say “who is right or wrong” in the matter.

“I don’t want to say who was right or wrong here. They just have to consider whatever they have decided. And use their wisdom, whoever it is in the chair to make that decision. Students’ education is the priority,” he said.

MIC secretary-general S Murugessan also disagreed with PTPTN’s move.

“While the issue shows PKR’s hypocrisy with regard to its claim of providing free education but not implementing it in Unisel which is under the Pakatan Rakyat state government… PTPTN should not victimise the students over this.

Muhyiddin: It’s a fair move

“We should prioritise the welfare of the students and so PTPTN should continue disbursing the loans to those who qualify from Unisel,” he told FMT.

However, former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo defended the move by PTPTN, assuring that the government would not let the issue affect students’ studies.

“I think this is not seriously done, as I am sure that the ministry just wants to see the reaction from the public and opposition.

“Actually, I do believe that Barisan Nasional will give back loans to those who deserve it,” he said.

Khir said that it was the government’s hope that the Selangor state government would find a solution.

“But looking at their reaction, it has been very bad. They have not given us a solution. This means they are not ready for free education. Politically, we are doing the right move. Now the public can measure how serious they have been over the abolishing of PTPTN,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today that it was “fair” for PTPTN to freeze loans for Unisel students as it was only responding to PKR’s policy proposal.

“PTPTN did not cancel all loans, but temporarily halted it so they can review it first. That’s fair. If the Selangor MB says there’s no need for students to take the loans, then PTPTN need not give out the loans,” he was reported as saying.