'Busy with PTPTN' - Perlis Bersatu's reason for axing Wan Saiful
Perlis Bersatu has dropped Wan Saiful Wan Jan as its state secretary as he is preoccupied with his role as the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) chairperson.
State chairperson Ameir Hassan told Malaysiakini the decision was made after taking into account Wan Saiful's alleged inability to commit to Perlis Bersatu.
Perlis Bersatu has dropped Wan Saiful Wan Jan as its state secretary as he is preoccupied with his role as the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) chairperson.
State chairperson Ameir Hassan told Malaysiakini the decision was made after taking into account Wan Saiful's alleged inability to commit to Perlis Bersatu.
"He is dropped as he is busy with the turmoil concerning PTPTN. The PTPTN (role) is heavy and there is a lot of work, and (party) work is not being coordinated, so we do not want to burden him.
"When I look at the communication and other problems, they arose because he has been busy with PTPTN, so let him settle that (his work with PTPTN).
"It is not fair to burden him further," he added.
Ameir said the decision was made two days ago at the state Bersatu special meeting. Wan Saiful, however, was not present.
"We have also yet to inform him (of this decision) as the power to appoint is under the state chairperson. So even when I appointed him (as secretary before), I didn't inform him,” he added.
Even so, Ameir (below) said a letter on the decision had been dispatched to Wan Saiful.
He further informed Malaysiakini that the role of state secretary would be assumed by the leadership.
Responding to a question, Ameir denied that the move to axe Wan Saiful was related to internal problems.
"There is no internal problems, (so) if there are those who say there is, those are just opposers intent on pitting us against each other," he added.
Malaysiakini has contacted Wan Saiful and is awaiting a response. In a Facebook posting later, the PTPTN chairperson made several serious allegations against Perlis Bersatu.
Wan Saiful's two-year appointment as PTPTN chairperson came into effect on June last year.
The higher education fund has been embroiled in several controversies late last year, among them, the proposed new scheduled loan repayment scheme which called on borrowers earning more than RM2,000 monthly, having between two and 15 percent of their salaries deducted for loan repayments.
This Income-Contingent Loan Repayment (ICLR) scheme, which was to have come into force this month, did not sit well with borrowers and politicians.
Many argued the new scheme did not take into account preexisting repayment contracts being serviced and other financial commitments borrowers may have.
The new scheme was put on hold last month and a new scheme is being drafted and is expected to be presented to cabinet after six months.
PTPTN also raised eyebrows for announcing a string of charitable donations despite claiming it was short on funds and struggling to recoup student loan repayments.
The donations included RM100,000 to storm victims in Perlis as announced by Wan Saiful, RM1 million to the Kedah zakat board, on top of the RM50,000 for the family of Kedah-born firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.
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