While confirming its commitment to abolish loan repayment to national higher education fund (PTPTN) and provide free education if it captures Putrajaya, Pakatan Rakyat has stressed that the rich must pay for their own.

NONE “I heard that even the son of Air Asia boss Tony Fernandes also applied (for the loan), this is preposterous,” quipped Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim ( left ) at a press conference, after chairing the Pakatan Rakyat leadership council meeting today.

He explained that while they will work towards providing the framework for free education and abolishing repayment of PTPTN loans, this will mainly involve the poor and middle income groups who have no other way to pay for education but through borrowing the money.

Lack of access to education, he argued, is not the worry of the rich and super rich.

Responding to a question, Anwar explained that similarly, rebates to those who have already paid off their PTPTN loans will only be given to the poor.

He said that a special committee would be formed to go through appeals on a case by case basis, adding that priority will be given to the less affluent.

Describing the move as “democratising the access to quality education”, Anwar said Pakatan is looking at paying not only the students’ tuition fees but also providing allowances for food and accommodation.

pakatan convention alor setar abdul hadi awang PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ( right ), who was also at the press conference, said this is in line with the “ negara berkebajikan ” principle which the Islamic party is promoting.

“It (free education) is not only the responsibility of the government but it also involves the rich contributing, and the poor being assisted,” he added.

Critics and the BN have belittled the opposition’s pledges saying that it will bankrupt the nation.

Pakatan, however, has explained that it will have no difficulty paying for free education as it will put a stop to BN’s “corrupt practices and leakages” thus saving massive amounts of public funds.

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