Stop treating PTPTN funds like your grandfather's, Muhyiddin and Khaled told

The government's about-turn in its decision to stop study loans under the National Higher Education Fund to students of Universiti Selangor and Selangor International Islamic University College (Kuis) is just one of a series of "idiocies" by prime minister Najib Razak's administration.

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang said the latest episode fitted well a description by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he labeled Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's cabinet as a "half-past six" cabinet.

"Clearly, Malaysia not only has still a 'half-past six' Cabinet under the Najib administration, the country also has a 'half-past six' Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister as well as a 'half-past six' Higher Education Minister to co-produce the PTPTN/Unisel farce!" said Lim in a strongly worded reaction to news that PTPTN had revoked its earlier decision not to offer study loans to students of the two colleges.

Muhyiddin and Higher Education minister Khaled Nordin had earlier defended the move, and said the PR-led Selangor state government must prove it could afford free tertiary education to Malaysians in line with its election promise.

The move drew strong reactions from various quarters, until the decision was reversed today.

Lim said the freeze was "immoral and criminal" and should never have been imposed in the first place by the government.

He said Muhyiddin and Khaled should now apologise for "such bullying and criminal breach of trust tactics" for endorsing the unethical move.

"How can Muhyiddin and Khaled behave as if public funds in PTPTF are like their grandfather’s monies which they could spend as they like, including victimising and penalising Unisel and Kuis students by turning them into scapegoats in the power play by Umno/Barisan Nasional in its desperate attempt to wrest back the Selangor state government from Pakatan Rakyat?" asked Lim.

--Harakahdaily