This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 16, 2018

BESUT: Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh has expressed disappointment over the attitude of certain parties which do not appreciate the efforts of National Higher Education Fund Corp (PTPTN).

He said there were also those who wanted to abolish PTPTN loans just to get votes and be seen as providing free education when they knew that was not possible, Bernama reported.

“With PTPTN which gives loans to students, about 200,000 STPM, STAM and SPM school-leavers can now study at local and overseas institutes of higher learning,” he said at the Excellent Service Award presentation ceremony of the Besut education office held at the Demong Resort here yesterday.

The opposition Pakatan Harapan manifesto pledged to delay PTPTN repayment until a borrower received a monthly salary of RM4,000, and tax incentives for employers to help pay their employees’ PTPTN loan without salary deduction.

Idris said many people did not realise that the government had financed about 90% of the cost of their tertiary education in government institutions while they paid for the remainder through PTPTN loans.

He added that PTPTN must be continued to enable those with qualifications to enter university, without facing financial constraints. “PTPTN does not only provide loans, but has also benefited the people through the 1Malaysia National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN1M-i) given to various parties, including those who received the Excellent Service Award like in Terengganu,” he said.