A student has had his Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) or National Higher Education Fund Corporation loan withheld for allegedly participating in the April Hulu Selangor by-election.

ptptn logo This was revealed by Mohd Nasir Zakaria (PAS-Padang Terap) while debating the 10th Malaysia Plan in Parliament today.

"Ahmad Shukri Kamarudin's loan was withheld as he was involved in the Hulu Selangor by-election," he said.

Speaking to reporters at parliament's lobby after his speech, Mohd Nasir charged that PTPTN had also withheld the loan applications of about 1,500 new students, in an attempt, he claimed, to blackmail the university into taking disciplinary action against Shukri.

Email bearing bad news

Shukri, who attends the Selangor International Islamic University College (KUIS), said his university received an email from the acting chief executive of PTPTN, Wan Ahmad Wan Yusof, which read:

"Upon receiving information from the special officer to the Higher Education Minister that Shukri had been involved in the Hulu Selangor by-election campaign, PTPTN has a right to terminate the loan agreement.

"According to the agreement, students are not allowed to be members of or participate in the affairs of any political party, workers union, or any entity not in line with the students' interests or Malaysia's, unless prior written permission is obtained."

It adds that the loan could be terminated if the student had breached its conditions.

Wan Ahmad also pointed out that as a result of Shukri's participation in the polls, "the PTPTN will withhold the loan application of KUIS' new students until PTPTN receives a satisfactory answer".

Shukri questioned why the minister should hold back the loan of the innocent students.

"I am the only one who was caught, why hold back loans of all  the 1,500 applicants?" he asked, adding that he had no avenue available to defend himself.

He claimed that he had met with some PTPTN officers and was told that his university ought to take disciplinary action against him if the new applications were to be reconsidered.

"I was told that the university should be held fully responsible. And that PTPTN will only consider the new applications if the university takes disciplinary action against me," he added.

Kuis was informed

Meanwhile, Kuis' student development department dean Muhammad Subari Ramli said when contacted the institution has so far not received any written statement from the authorities.

"I was informed about the withholding of the PTPTN loans for 1,500 new students by my superior, who was informed verbally," he said.

Muhammad Subari said he was now in the process of preparing a report on the student, as requested by the body.

The student, he said, was not responding positively to the matter.

"We will decide on what action is to be taken against him, depending on his response," he added.