Do not forget Anwar's sacrifices, Akmal Nasir tells PKR Youth

Amid an internal rift between PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Azmin Ali, the chief of the party's Youth wing, Akmal Nasrullah Nasir, today called on its members not to forget Anwar's contributions since the party was formed 20 years ago.

"The 20-year Reformasi experience should be the basis and spirit of PKR Youth's strength.

"All the struggles and sacrifices were made not in the pursuit of positions or benefits, but for the sake of the country's future.

"How can we forget the contributions of our president, Saudara Anwar Ibrahim, who put the interests of the rakyat above all else. (Despite) having been mistreated, oppressed and betrayed, (he) kept going on based on the principles of the struggle," Akmal (above) said in his policy speech at the wing's congress this morning.

The congress was held at the Malacca International Trade Centre in Ayer Keroh.

Akmal's remarks came less than 24 hours after the opening of the PKR Youth and Women wings' congress yesterday, which saw Azmin officiating the event and receiving high praise from delegates.

Video clips of the opening ceremony accompanied by the Merisik Khabar song, plus text messages complimenting Azmin have also been making the rounds.

Among these text messages were: "Azmin Ali is also one of the main architects that united Mahathir and Anwar" and "Azmin was also the one who was able to lead the Selangor state government successfully and maintain the relationship with PAS despite many anti-Azmin people being unhappy about it. But Azmin's action had gotten Harapan the support of the Malays."

Despite his speech today being initially disrupted by a ruckus created by some party members who were not allowed into the venue because they did not have entrance passes, Akmal was seen continuing after two minutes.

In his speech, Akmal, who is Johor Baru MP, urged the government to abolish the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) and replace it with a more holistic and sustainable mechanism.

"Here I would like to call on PKR Youth to be together in ensuring that this remnant of the BN administration is abolished and replaced by a more holistic and sustainable mechanism.

"We must hold to this principle, do not let the rakyat down. The problem is that graduates are not only burdened by debts but also low income.

"The reality is that 68 percent of PTPTN borrowers are still earning a meagre income," he said.

In its manifesto for the 14th general election, Pakatan Harapan had promised to postpone the repayment of PTPTN loan repayments for all borrowers who earn RM4,000 and less, besides abolishing the blacklist of PTPTN loan defaulters. - Mkini