A National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) official has confirmed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s RM43 billion figure, which he quoted as the  cost that the government has to bear if PTPTN is abolished.

PTPTN Investment Division senior manager Tuan Din Tuan Mat said this is the cumulative sum of the loans approved since 1997 up to the end of 2011.

He was responding to reporters’ questions at a press conference about a RM28 billion figure cited by PTPTN’s website.

The apparent discrepancy has drawn attacks from opposition figures, including PAS vice-president Husam Musa who issued a press statement on the matter yesterday.

Tuan Din explained that the RM43 billion figure is for the loans approved, whereas the RM28 billion figure is the sum already paid out to students over the same period.

“The opposition has issued statements on this RM43 billion and RM28 billion figures, but (quoting) the RM28 billion figure is not accurate.

“The government gives a commitment that once (the loan) is approved, it has to fund the student’s studies until completion,” he said, pointing out that the studies take about four years.