The planned demonstration by undergraduates at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on April 14, to demand for the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans to be abolished, will only disturb peace and order in the federal capital, said Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

He said the organiser of the demonstration, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), should instead use the proper channel, specifically the campus, to voice out their opinions and grouses.

He said most universities had a speakers’ corner to enable undergraduates to express their views.

“No need to disturb businesses, traffic and others just to show to the foreign media that you have an issue to demonstrate about,” he said after closing the Public Housing Project Joint Management Body-National Economic Action Council (PPR-MTEN) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Public Housing seminar in Malacca today.

He said his ministry would cooperate with other agencies in monitoring and controlling the gathering to prevent it from disrupting the activities of others in the city who love peace.

NONE On the students’ demand for PTPTN loans to be abolished in favour of free higher education, Raja Nong Chik ( left ) said those who received the loans should be responsible by paying up to enable others to borrow from PTPTN.

“If they start not repaying their PTPTN loan, then they may fall into the habit of not paying DBKL housing rental, their credit card... this is negative attitude,” he said.

On former finance minister Daim Zainuddin’s statement that he (Raja Nong Chik) was the most suitable candidate to wrest back the Lembah Pantai seat from the opposition in the coming general election, he said it was up to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to decide on the candidate.

“I’ve been involved in politics there (Lembah Pantai) fo 25 years, so if given the chance, I would like to contest the seat,” he said.

On another note, Raja Nong Chik said his ministry would table the resolutions from the three-day seminar beginning last Saturday, to the cabinet including the proposed joint inspections by DBKL and JMB to identify faulty or damaged facilities in the common areas.

- Bernama