DAP MP surprises Anwar with PTPTN poser, says unfulfilled pledges haunting Harapan

 

PARLIAMENT | A DAP lawmaker appeared to put Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the spot by asking whether Pakatan Harapan should revisit its long-standing pledge to abolish the national higher education loan scheme, amid lingering voter frustration over unfulfilled election promises.

During the Minister’s Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat, Khoo Poay Tiong (Harapan-Kota Melaka) pointed out that BN had used the issue as political ammunition during the Johor state election.

"My second question is about the youth. How can we help this group, especially those who have just graduated from university?

"Because recently, the Johor menteri besar criticised us (during the state polls), saying that the government promised to abolish PTPTN but we never did.

"This is what the Johor MB said about us when the higher education minister is from BN. So, prime minister, can you reconsider this so that we can abolish PTPTN?" Khoo (above) asked in an unrelated supplementary question during a discussion on the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure on Malaysia’s economy.

A visibly surprised Anwar (Harapan-Tambun) said he would discuss the matter with members of the unity government and Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir.

"I will try to discuss this amicably because the Johor menteri besar is also part of the federal unity government, and so we can discuss this properly. And about PTPTN, we will discuss with the minister," the prime minister said.

Past PTPTN pledges

In 2013, Pakatan Rakyat, Harapan’s predecessor, pledged to abolish PTPTN and introduce free higher education as part of its election manifesto.

The pledge was later revised in the 2018 general election, with Harapan promising to defer PTPTN repayments for borrowers earning below RM4,000.

For the 2022 general election, Harapan pledged a targeted study loan write-off for borrowers from the B40 income group and the poor.

Harapan supporters have repeatedly criticised Anwar and the coalition for failing to deliver on promised reforms, while the constraints of governing under a unity government are often cited as a reason for the delay in implementing such measures.

Although they are partners in the federal government, BN and Harapan went head-to-head in the Johor state election, with Harapan suffering heavy losses.

BN won 48 of the 56 seats contested, an increase of eight seats from the 2022 state polls. Harapan secured the remaining eight seats, losing four from its previous tally of 12. - Mkini