SHAH ALAM, August 20: The Umno-BN Government has failed to defend the rights of its citizens when they made the decision to list PTPTN defaulters under the Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS), but let corruption, leakages and loans by cronies grow.
PKR Communications Director, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that the announcement by the Second Minister of Education, Idris Jusoh, is yet another failure of the Umno-BN government in implementing pro-people national education policies.
He said that while low-income students are chased and hounded for debt collection, the Umno-BN government has not taken any decisive action to overcome the problem of illegal money flows in the country which is the third highest in the world from 2001-2010, totaling to over RM800 billion.
Previously, Pakatan leaders revealed corporate loan scandals such as the loan by Datuk Tajudin Ramli amounting to RM584 million which was written off and the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal associated with Datuk Shahrizat Jalil’s family amounting to RM250 million, both of which did not incur any stern action by the government.
At the same time, university student’s debts of only tens of thousands are incessantly demanded for and chased under any circumstances, including not being allowed to go out of the country.
According to Nik Nazmi, the PTPTN policy which is attached with the liberalisation and corporatisation of higher education has become a burden faced by the younger generation in this country.
“In addition to low wages and salaries, as well as high home and car prices, they are faced with various prolonged debt,” said Nik Nazmi in a press statement.
He said, according to the Bank Negara (National Bank), household debt has increased by 12 percent every year over the last five years.
“The bankruptcy rate has also continued to increase from year to year, and among the main group who fall victim are the young people,” he said.
Nik Nazmi explained that most students who use the PTPTN facility are those from low and low-medium income families.
“If their family could afford it, of course they would not take a loan from the PTPTN fund,” he stressed.
He added that Pakatan leaders do not dispute the need for borrowers who are able and have good income to repay their PTPTN loan.
However, what is being disputed is the fate of the majority of borrowers who have been struggling with the high cost of living and come from ordinary families.
“The policy of giving discounts to those who repay their entire PTPTN debts in a lump sum made in the 203 budget is unfair because those who benefit from it have good financial positions.
“As a result, education can no longer be a catalyst for social mobility to enable those from low-income families to have an opportunity of a better life, instead it widens the gap between the rich and the poor in our country,” he said.
Nik Nazmi added that this new policy proves that Umno-BN still wants to make education a commodity and privilege for those who can afford it.
“There is only one real solution to this issue which is to abolish the PTPTN and provide free education as an investment for the future of our children,” he said.