Anwar Ibrahim’s claim that Pakatan Rakyat will abolish the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) has drawn ridicule from Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who said the former would need magic spells to pull it off.

NONE At a luncheon talk with Kuala Lumpur NGOs today, Muhyiddin explained that Pakatan would need RM43 billion in order to write off outstanding PTPTN loans.

“Anwar says he wants to abolish (the PTPTN). Will you support him? In other words, he wants to give things for free.

“Where will the RM43 billion come from? People say there used to be magic staffs, (and magic chants) ‘ kun faya kun ’ (‘Be and it is’). Does he have a magic staff, ladies and gentlemen? Does he have a magic lamp?

“If he wants to abolish the PTPTN, where will the money come from to prepare these education opportunities? From the sky?

“I do not know what his intentions are, if not merely political,” he said.

Kg Baru development benefits Malays

Previously, Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin had ordered PTPTN to freeze its loans to students in two higher learning institution in Selangor.

He said that this was done in view of Anwar’s call for PTPTN to be abolished and thus PKR-administered Selangor should prove it could provide free education.

Public outcry ensued, forcing Khaled to back down on June 8.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin told the audience that the federal government had no hidden motive when porposing to develop Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Kampung Baru.

“Even though this is a Malay settlement, it is in the city... Based on market value, the land is worth billions of ringgit. If it is not development, its value cannot be seen.

“The longer we wait, the longer it takes for the Malays to reap the rewards,” he said.

The federal territories ministry had proposed to build commercial buildings in Kampung Baru, but land owners have been opposing the move.