DAP MP Asks Anwar When Govt Will Fulfill PH's Promise Of Abolishing PTPTN | WeirdKaya

A DAP lawmaker has asked Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim whether the government would reconsider Pakatan Harapan’s longstanding promise to abolish the National Higher Education Fund Corporation loan scheme, better known as PTPTN.

Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong raised the issue during the Minister’s Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat on July 14.

Says young graduates need more support

Reported by Malaysiakini, Khoo first asked how the government could provide more assistance to young Malaysians, particularly those who had recently graduated from university.

He then brought up remarks made by the Johor Menteri Besar during the recent Johor state election campaign.

According to Khoo, the Menteri Besar had criticised PH for promising to abolish PTPTN but failing to do so after becoming the government.

“How can we help them? Recently, the Johor Menteri Besar said during the state election that we had promised to abolish PTPTN,” Khoo said.

Khoo then asked whether Anwar would reconsider abolishing the student loan scheme.

The supplementary question was raised during a discussion on how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could affect Malaysia’s economy.

Anwar says he will discuss the matter

Anwar appeared surprised by the question but said he would discuss the matter with members of the unity government.

He noted that the Johor Menteri Besar was also part of the unity government at the federal level.

“As for PTPTN, I will discuss it properly because the Johor Menteri Besar is also part of the unity government at the federal level,” Anwar said.

“So, we will discuss it properly. We will also discuss the PTPTN issue with the Higher Education Minister.”

The Higher Education Ministry is currently led by Zambry Abd Kadir.

PH’s PTPTN pledges have changed over the years

The promise to abolish PTPTN dates back to the 2013 general election.

At the time, Pakatan Rakyat, the coalition that preceded PH, promised to abolish PTPTN and introduce free higher education as part of its election manifesto.

The pledge was later revised for the 2018 general election.

PH instead promised to postpone PTPTN repayments for borrowers earning less than RM4,000.

During the 2022 general election, PH pledged to introduce targeted student loan forgiveness for borrowers from the B40 income group and those living in poverty.

Raised after PH’s defeat in Johor

The exchange came shortly after PH suffered a major defeat in the Johor state election.

Although BN and PH are partners in the federal unity government, both coalitions contested against each other in the state polls.

BN won 48 of the 56 seats contested, an increase of eight seats compared with the 2022 state election.

PH secured the remaining eight seats, losing four of the 12 seats it previously held.

PH supporters have repeatedly criticised Anwar and the coalition over reforms and election promises that have yet to be implemented.

The limitations of governing under a unity government have often been cited as the reason for delays in carrying out those measures.

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