Gerakan: Convert PTPTN loans to scholarships

ALOR STAR: Kedah Gerakan Youth wing has proposed for 50% conversion of the National Tertiary Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans into scholarships for second class upper students in local universities.

The wing chief Tan Keng Liang said the 50% conversion would serve as government’s recognition of students’ academic excellence.

“It will promote better quality undergraduates in local universities,” he said in a statement today.
He acknowledged that such scholarships would require substantial public funds.

However, he said that the returns of government investment in education sector cannot be quantified in monetary terms.

“The human capital development is the most important sector in any developed country. The result could be seen across all economic sectors in the country, in both short and long term,” he said.

Previously, Tan has also proposed for conversion of part of PTPTN loans to scholarships for first class student in local universities.

He said he was making the proposal heeding to the poll conducted by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on what improvements Malaysia would like to see in 2011.

The poll is being conducted via the Prime Minister’s official website.

In its imminent election manifesto, the Human Rights Party (HRP) has also planned to demand the federal government convert PTPTN loans into scholarships for all deserving students irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.

Tan said that the proposed scholarships would ease financial burden of the students and their families.
He said it would indirectly give these students a head-start in their career, or otherwise they would be burdened with financial obligation to service substantial education loans.

“We hope the government would consider this proposal in the next coming budget for 2012.
“My proposal is in line with the 1Malaysia concept, in which education is a priority,” he said.