Mas Ermieyati dares Asyraf to answer Mara woes, slams legal threat

Summary 

• Opposition MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin accuses Mara chairperson Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki of using legal threats to silence criticism over delayed TVET loans.

• She insists her statements reflect public grievances from affected parents and students, urging Asyraf to respond with facts, not lawsuits.

• The PAC chairperson also questions the status of loan applications, alleged lack of aid, and potential misuse of public funds for official trips.

A Bersatu lawmaker has hit back at Mara chairperson Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, accusing the latter of using legal threats to silence public criticism regarding Mara’s funding and transparency.

Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin stressed that the issues she had raised regarding the delays and weaknesses in Mara’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) education loan were based on complaints submitted to her by concerned parents and students. 

Her defence comes after Asyraf (above, right), who is also the Umno secretary-general, said yesterday that Mara’s lawyers will be initiating a legal suit against Mas Ermieyati over her alleged defamatory statements. 

Asyraf said that while he was initially reluctant to entertain such claims, Mas Ermieyati had gone overboard with her accusations, adding: “See you in court YB Mas”. 

He also said an opposition MP in Malacca has been levelling allegations against him, including claims that he has not been funding Mara’s TVET students.

‘Address questions, not threaten to sue’

Responding to Asyraf’s Facebook post on the matter, Mas Ermieyati said that if Asyraf feels that the voice of the people is a form of “slander”, he should respond by presenting facts instead of threatening to take legal action.

“I also wish to express my regret that (Asyraf) has opted to utilise Mara’s legal counsel, who are supposed to defend the public institution as well as students’ rights and welfare, not pursue lawsuits against me personally.

“This is not a matter of political ego as this matter concerns the future of our nation’s children,” she said in a statement last night. 

Mas Ermieyati, who is also the chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, added that she will continue to speak out for bumiputera and TVET students and will not be intimidated by threats of legal action.

“I leave this matter to the legal process and am prepared to face it in any forum, including in court, if that is the choice - for the sake of the Malaysia I love,” she said.

She also challenged Asyraf to address the questions she had raised, pressing him to clarify whether the online application process for the March 2025 student loans remains closed and when it will be reopened.

Urging Asyraf to state when Mara will resolve the issue of delayed disbursements for TVET student loans, she also sought an explanation on whether Mara had discontinued the technical and entrepreneurial skills training programme.

“Were the expenses for nationwide and overseas tours by Asyraf and/or his delegation funded by public money? If true, what is the amount and who were the members of the delegation?” she questioned.

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