Puad reminds Adam of PTPTN abolition pledge after MOHE appointment

Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi took a sarcastic swipe at newly appointed Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim, daring him to push for the abolition of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), now that he holds the portfolio.

In a Facebook post today, Puad mockingly urged Adam (above) to "speak up loudly" during post-cabinet meetings at the Higher Education Ministry, to demand the loan scheme’s abolition, adding that only then would his past activism appear worthwhile.

“Congratulations to Adam on getting the most suitable portfolio, which is the deputy higher education minister.

“Now he can abolish PTPTN. Please speak up loudly to abolish PTPTN during post-cabinet meetings at the Higher Education Ministry.

“Only then will it seem worthwhile that you once slept in a tent at Dataran Merdeka,” he said.

He also invoked former economy minister Rafizi Ramli’s slogan, while suggesting that reformist ideas are easier to uphold while in opposition rather than in power.

“That’s what Rafizi meant by ‘revive reformist idealism through the test of power” (hidupkan idealisme reformasi ujian kuasa).

“Being in opposition is indeed easy. But once you’re in power, only then do you understand how high or low the sky really is,” Puad added.

Adam’s activism days

During his student activism days in the 2010s, Adam emerged as a prominent advocate for free education in Malaysia, campaigning vigorously for the abolition of PTPTN loans.

Through his involvement in large-scale protests, he consistently highlighted how students were saddled with excessive debt from an early age.

He had also previously criticised the government’s proposal to reimpose a travel ban on its loan defaulters, accusing former PTPTN chairperson Wan Saiful Wan Jan of “bastardising” the body.

Adam was appointed deputy higher education minister in a cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today.

He replaces Mustapha Sakmud, who was moved to the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs). Adam previously served as deputy youth and sports minister.

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