'Unjust if bumiputera need not repay PTPTN loans'

 

MIC Youth has condemned a call that bumiputera students be exempt from repaying National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans. The proposal was made by a coalition of Malay NGOs led by Perkasa.

“This is downright unfair, unjust and goes against everything the country stands for. Race should never be a consideration at all,” said its leader, C Sivarraajh.

He added that the NGOs should not look at loan repayments in a racial manner as it is a backwards process that does not contribute to the country’s future.

“We are trying to slowly erase race as a consideration for scholarships and study loans and this proposal by 58 Malay NGOs is simply very regressive.”

Sivarraajh (left) also said the only acceptable criterion for exemption is competency, where students with first class honours are exempted from repayment.

“This will motivate students to score better results. It should be enjoyed by all, regardless of race.

“Does the colour of your skin stop you from getting first class honours?” he questioned in a statement yesterday.

He added that instead of looking at race based issues like this, the focus should be on defaulters.

“A more pressing issue is the high number of students, irrespective of race, who avoid repaying their loans, which can deprive others.”

On Sunday, during the National Unity Convention, a coalition of Malay rights NGOs, led by Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali, urged the government to consider allowing only bumiputera students be exempted from repaying the study loan.

According to news reports, the 58 NGOs agreed on a ‘National Unity Memorandum’ to be sent to the government, the Agong and the Council of Rulers.

Haul up Malay NGO for seditious PTPTN remark, says UM student leader

The coalition of Malay rights groups should be charged under the Sedition Act for suggesting only Bumiputeras be exempted from repaying their National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loans, says a Universiti Malaya student leader today.

The Universiti Malaya Students Association (PMUM) president Fahmi Zainol said that Putrajaya should wield the Act against the coalition for making the ethno-centric statement that could incite racial tension among the multi-ethnic community in the country.

"How about prosecuting them under the Sedition Act because they are creating tension among the races. How was it that others can be hauled up but they are not?

"Maybe the NGOs are cronies to the ruling coalition... But I feel they should be brought to justice for coming up with such a statement," he told The Malaysian Insider.

It was reported yesterday that the coalition of Malay rights groups, led by Perkasa, urged Putrajaya to consider allowing only excelling Bumiputeras to be exempted from repaying their PTPTN loan.

In their National Unity Memorandum, drafted by a committee headed by Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali, the group also wanted Putrajaya to take immediate action over the phenomenon of many non-Bumiputeras being exempted 100% from PTPTN.

PTPTN allows for all its debtors who graduated with first-class honours to be exempt from repaying their loans, regardless of race.

Fahmi said the statement from the Malay NGOs should not have been made in the first place as it was blatantly unfair towards non-Bumiputera students.

He said that if the coalition was serious about abolishing PTPTN, the process should involve all races.

"Who are they to talk about us students? If it was the students who came up with such statement, I can understand. (But) Maybe they are just 'syok sendiri'.

"We are all Malaysians and should treat each other as brothers and sisters. We should give everyone equal treatment. Just because they think the Chinese are not paying, they want the Malays to be exempted? This is not right," he said.

Meanwhile, Selangor state executive councillor for Education, Human Capital Development, Science, Technology and Innovation Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad questioned the coalition's logic for making such a suggestion.

“It appears these NGOs have an outdated and irrelevant mindset. We should not look at everything in the racial context. Something is not right with what they are saying," he said.

Nik Nazmi said the state has always been clear about education issues and it was to ensure every Malaysian receives free education and abolishing the PTPTN.

"Ours include all the citizens of Malaysia, not just the Bumiputeras," he said.

PAS Education bureau deputy chairman Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed said he disagreed with the Malay rights' group plan to exempt Malays, even the excelling ones, from repaying their study loans.

"A loan is a loan and you have to pay them back no matter what race you are. It is also unfair if you only exempt one race from paying but leave out the rest. It is not good for the country."

Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) Malaysia chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said allowing such exemption to go through would only make Malay students become lazy.

“If they don't have to pay back, they will become lazy. It will also weaken the community for being too dependent on the government.

Azimah said like their peers, Malay students should work hard if they want to be exempted from paying back their study loan.

“They should work hard to get good grades. There is no harm in working hard to achieve something. There is no use in pointing fingers at others," she added.

The memorandum was debated among over 300 Malay NGOs at the National Unity Convention in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, before it was approved later in the evening.

The groups said they intend to send the National Unity Memorandum to the government, the Yang DiPertuan Agong and the Council of Rulers. – November 24, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/haul-up-malay-ngo-for-seditious-ptptn-remark-says-um-student-leader#sthash.QvSyeJQy.dpuf

Malay groups want PTPTN loan exemption for Bumis only

A coalition of Malay rights groups, led by Perkasa, today urged Putrajaya to consider allowing only Bumiputeras to be exempt from repaying their National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan schemes.

They noted in their National Unity Memorandum that the majority of PTPTN borrowers exempted from repaying their loans were Chinese, and this could anger the Bumiputeras.

"The Malaysian government must take immediate action over the phenomenon of many non-Bumiputeras being exempted 100% from PTPTN, compared with the Bumiputera students," read the memorandum, which was drafted by a committee headed by Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

"At the same time, the Malaysian government must study the reasons why Bumiputera students' academics are declining, compared with non-Bumiputeras.

"In this context, the Malaysian government should review whether PTPTN exemptions should be given to Bumiputeras alone, in line with Article 153 of the Federal Constitution."

The current PTPTN systems allows for all its debtors who graduated with first-class honours to be exempt from repaying their loans, regardless of race.

But the memorandum by the Malay groups today warned that the rising trend of Chinese students enjoying the loan exemptions could jeopardise national unity.

They noted that in 2011, 8,818 Chinese students were exempted from repaying the PTPTN loans, compared with 2,347 Malays, and 456 Indians.

"If this issue is not handled wisely, it could result in Bumiputera students getting angry with PTPTN and upset with the Malaysian government.

"At the same time, this issue could potentially create anger among Bumiputera students towards non-Bumiputera students."

The memorandum also suggested that more non-Bumiputeras earned first-class honours compared with Bumiputeras because private higher education institutions (IPTS) were more "lenient" and had a "hidden agenda".

"Firstly, how and why are Bumiputera students unable to compete with non-Bumiputera students?

"Secondly, are PTPTN's actions caused by the lenient marking systems and curriculum of the IPTS, to the point that many non-Bumiputera students gain first-class honours, so that they need not repay their PTPTN loans?

"Thirdly, are Bumiputera students in the IPTS and IPTA not the cream of the creams? Fourthly, is there a hidden agenda by certain quarters in IPTS to allow many non-Bumiputeras to become exempted from repaying their PTPN?"

The memorandum was debated among over 300 Malay NGOs at the National Unity Convention in Kuala Lumpur today, before it was approved later in the evening.

The groups intend to send the National Unity Memorandum to the government, the Yang DiPertuan Agong and the Council of Rulers. – November 23, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malay-groups-want-ptptn-loan-exemption-for-bumis-only#sthash.AhDuyXrB.dpuf

Peminjam tegar PTPTN bakal disenarai-hitam di CCRIS

How to ensure poor get their share of scholarships – Koon Yew Yin

Since my retirement, I have been concerned with how we can solve the problem of the poor through educational mobility.

This has involved putting my money where my mouth is in a programme which helps needy families send their children to university through financing their first year.

Although Forbes, the media organisation has given recognition to me in its annual selection of Asian philanthropic heroes in 2011, I am the first to realise that my efforts at providing scholarships to the needy are modest and a drop in the ocean of need.

After much reflection, I would like to provide a practical and easy solution to the problem of too many deserving poor children having to chase and compete for too few scholarships.

My solution is a two-pronged one.

The first relates to government scholarships. These scholarships are, in fact, provided for by taxpayers so that taxpayers like me and other citizens have the right to ensure that the funds are not abused or misused and are fairly distributed.

My proposal applies not only to federal and state educational scholarships but also to scholarships provided by the government-linked companies, such as Petronas, Tenaga Nasional, Telekom and Bank Negara.

Targeting scholarship awards more equitably

Today, we have an upper class of Malaysians who have benefited from the New Economic Policy during the past half century through access to government scholarships.

These recipients of previous NEP scholarships (Malays and non-Malays) should now be disqualified from having their children apply for government scholarships except for the small proportion of scholarships awarded purely on a merit basis.

Instead, the greater proportion of government scholarships should be made available to the children of those families who have never received such scholarships in the past.

This will ensure that the children of poor and lower middle-class Malays as well as poor non-Malays, who cannot compete with the children of richer families, will compete among themselves for scholarships.

A small quantum of the number of government scholarships though can be based solely on merit and set aside for brilliant and outstanding students for which the disqualifying clause will not be applicable.

The following are some of the positive effects of my proposal:

It will create a more level playing field for all young Malaysians in the area of government and GLC scholarships.

It will make the children of Malays as well as non-Malays who have previously benefitted from the NEP more competitive and self-reliant.

It will also boost racial harmony.

It is an easy affirmative action programme to operate as all that is needed is the identification details of earlier education scholarships holders for vetting purposes as well as a simple question in the application form: has your father of mother been recipient of a government scholarship award previously?

Any affirmative action programme should have a beginning and an end. It must also justify its target beneficiaries and remove them from the queue once they have been provided with the opportunity and benefits.

Others formerly excluded or left out should now be put into the queue if they are in need.

Private sector participation

The other part of my strategy applies to the private sector. One reader in response to an article I wrote on the Chinese poor had provided the following comment:

“The super rich Chinese can do more by funding more educational organisation for the needy ones. As we know non-Bumi have minimum opportunity to study in full government-funded tertiary or vocational education. The capable and well networked Chinese should organise schools like early days when the Chinese merchants self-funded the Chinese schools. But nowadays the super rich Chinese are only interested in creating international school for their own profit. God will help those who help themselves. Let us help ourselves while waiting for the change in government.”

It is clear that the very rich and even rich – of whatever race – can and should do much more in providing educational access to the poor as well as middle class.

These private sector scholarships can have a higher proportion based on merit to balance the pro-poor one awarded by the government.

If this two-pronged strategy is adopted, we will have a greater measure of national unity and harmony, and quicker progress towards a more equitable and fair society. – May 11, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

‘Most scholarships awarded based on ethinicity’

Teresa Kok disagrees with Shahidan Kassim that scholarships are no longer given based on race.

PETALING JAYA: Most of the government scholarships for overseas study were offered based on ethinicity in the past five years, unlike what Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim has claimed, Seputeh parliamentarian Teresa Kok said.

In a statement today, Kok said Shahidan had misled the public by saying that the Public Service Department’s scholarship were given based on one’s merit.

Shahidan had said non-Bumiputra made up closed to 45% of the government scholarships recipients such as in the case of 2008 where 1,100 Bumiputra students and 900 non-Bumiputra were offered the study aids.

In 2009, 924 out of 2,100 scholarships were given to non-Bumiputra students; in 2010, 779 of the 1,750; in 2011, 618 out of 1,500; and in 2012, 120 of the 300.

Kok said Shahidan’s statement was in direct contradiction with what his predecessor Nazri Abdul Aziz had said in 2010 and 2011.

On June 30, 2010, Nazri said the 3,000 scholarships for that year were allocated under four categories, of which only 300 were awarded based on merit while 900 were based on racial compositions.

In May 2911, Nazri said of the 1,500 scholarship offered, only 300 were allocated for the merit category with 900 for racial composition category. The remaining were awarded to the Sabah and Sarawak natives, and the socially disadvantaged.

“It is obvious that Shahidan has not been properly briefed about the PSD overseas scholarships and he should therefore seek the correct answers and retract his misleading remarks,” Kok said.

She also urged Shahidan to explain the reason behind the declining number of scholarships offered since 2009.

“The drastic drop to 300 in 2012 is simply shocking. It is not justifiable in view that the prime minister has failed to rein in his own department’s spending and has allocated RM16.45 bil in the 2014 Budget estimate for his department,” he said.

Pakatan Ulangi Jaminan Beri Pendidikan Percuma, Hapus PTPTN Dan Tol

KeadilanDaily
Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan) sekali lagi mengulangi jaminan akan mereformasi sistem pendidikan negara dengan memberi pendidikan percuma serta menghapuskan pinjaman Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) jika membentuk Kerajaan Persekutuan yang baru.

Pengarah Strategi KEADILAN, Rafizi Ramli berkata, Pakatan mempunyai beberapa pendekatan untuk mengurus ekonomi antaranya mereformasi pendidikan, meningkatkan pendapatan rakyat dan mengurus sumber dengan baik tanpa ketirisan.

“Malaysia perlu bertukar daripada ekonomi yang bergantung kepada komoditi kepada negara modal insan yang inovatif dan kreatif. Caranya adalah mereformasi sistem pendidikan, memberi pendidikan percuma dan menghapus PTPTN,” katanya dalam forum “Bagaimana Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat akan membelanjakan wang rakyat” di Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Kuala Lumpur-Selangor (KLSCH), kelmarin.

Rafizi berkata, untuk meningkatkan pendapatan boleh guna rakyat, Pakatan berhasrat melaksanakan gaji minima RM1,100 yang dijangka dapat melepaskan rakyat daripada garis kemiskinan.

Menurutnya, Pakatan juga akan mengurangkan kos sara hidup antaranya penurunan harga minyak, cukai kereta serta penghapusan tol.

“Sebahagian besar pendapatan rakyat dibelanjakan untuk membayar ansuran kereta, membayar tol dan minyak. Jika kita dapat mengurangkan beban ini kita dapat meningkatkan lebihan daripada pendapatan mereka,” katanya.

Mengupas mengenai kebajikan wanita, Ahli Parlimen Kota Raja, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud berkata, Pakatan berhasrat membelanjakan sehingga RM4.5 bilion peruntukan dalam Belanjawan 2013, merangkumi Skim Caruman Wanita Nasional (SCWN) yang menelan kos RM3 bilion dan Skim Elaun Penjagaan Anak (SEPA) melibatkan peruntukan RM940 juta setahun.

Menerusi SCWN, beliau berkata, Pakatan berhasrat memberi caruman sebanyak RM600 setahun kepada suri rumah sebagai persediaan keselamatan sosial termasuk kematian suami, penceraian atau kurang upaya.

Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Klang, Charles Santiago pula menegaskan, kajian Bank Dunia menyatakan gaji minima RM1,100 Pakatan tidak akan memufliskan negara.

Katanya, dasar tersebut mampu mengurangkan penggunaan tenaga kerja warga asing dan meningkatkan kualiti hidup rakyat.

“Satu kajian lain di Indonesia pada 1990 merumuskan perlaksanaan gaji minima bukan mengurang pengangguran malah dapat mewujudkan perniagaan baru, peluang pekerjaan dan merapatkan jurang kekayaan,” katanya.

PTPTN loans: RM70.2m allocated to students

The government committed in providing education funding to all Malaysians, says the corporation

TEMERLOH: The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) has allocated RM70.2 million in Sponsorship Advanced Payment (WPP) to 46,824 students for the September intake into public and private higher learning institutions, said its chairman, Ismail Mohamad Said.

He said the WPP of RM1,500 per student would allow them to make various payments, thus reducing their burden, adding that up till July 31, PTPTN had distributed RM856.9 million in WPP to 583,634 students.

“Up till July, PTPTN had given out loans totalling more than RM44 billion to 1.94 million students to further their studies locally and abroad,” he told reporters at the breaking of fast gathering in Kampung Peragap Kerdau, here yesterday.

He said the allocation increased every year following the large number of students who managed to get places for further studies.

According to him, the allocation proved that the government was committed in providing education funding to all Malaysians regardless of race or political affiliation.

Bernama

The big PTPTN blunder

Stephen Ng - The Malaysian Insider


JUNE 10 — I have been following the news about the PTPTN, and had previously written about it as well.

The latest development by the minister of higher education, Khaled Nordin, is one of the worst of Umno’s political games.

From the shared script with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the victims were apparently the students and their parents.

This ploy did not take into consideration the younger generation of Malaysians who cannot afford the higher education under the present Barisan Nasional regime.

To play on their sentiments is something that most Malaysians will not forgive.

Sometimes, silence is golden. In this case, it only became worse when Khaled Nordin had the cheek to say that the freeze on PTPTN loans to Selangor-owned tertiary education institutions “was sparked by the Selangor government’s failure to find a permanent solution for providing free education.”

As an observer, I seriously doubt Khaled’s integrity as a minister. His remarks came when the Selangor government was prepared to set aside RM30 million to provide free education to the students of both universities.

In my opinion, Khaled has lost his credibility and the people’s confidence in his ability to run an important ministry, no thanks to all the dirty politics that he and his comrades are willing to play in order to stay in power.

I wish to remind Khaled, Muhyiddin, and the rest of Umno’s ministers under the leadership of Najib Razak, of one of Bersih’s eight demands: Stop the dirty politics.

MCA, MIC disagree with PTPTN freeze

But Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says it is fair while former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo says the move is not serious.

PETALING JAYA: Two Barisan Nasional component parties disagreed with the decision to freeze PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation) loans of new students enrolled at Selangor-owned Universiti Selangor (Unisel).
MCA Selangor chairman Donald Lim said that politics should not have come into the equation at the expense of students’ education and future.
“Whatever decision we make as the government should not take politics into consideration, but the students… we should prioritise children’s education and future,” he told FMT.
Asked if he was admitting that the government had made a mistake, the senator and deputy finance minister refused to say “who is right or wrong” in the matter.
“I don’t want to say who was right or wrong here. They just have to consider whatever they have decided. And use their wisdom, whoever it is in the chair to make that decision. Students’ education is the priority,” he said.

MIC secretary-general S Murugessan also disagreed with PTPTN’s move.
“While the issue shows PKR’s hypocrisy with regard to its claim of providing free education but not implementing it in Unisel which is under the Pakatan Rakyat state government… PTPTN should not victimise the students over this.
Muhyiddin: It’s a fair move
“We should prioritise the welfare of the students and so PTPTN should continue disbursing the loans to those who qualify from Unisel,” he told FMT.
However, former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo defended the move by PTPTN, assuring that the government would not let the issue affect students’ studies.
“I think this is not seriously done, as I am sure that the ministry just wants to see the reaction from the public and opposition.
“Actually, I do believe that Barisan Nasional will give back loans to those who deserve it,” he said.
Khir said that it was the government’s hope that the Selangor state government would find a solution.
“But looking at their reaction, it has been very bad. They have not given us a solution. This means they are not ready for free education. Politically, we are doing the right move. Now the public can measure how serious they have been over the abolishing of PTPTN,” he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today that it was “fair” for PTPTN to freeze loans for Unisel students as it was only responding to PKR’s policy proposal.
“PTPTN did not cancel all loans, but temporarily halted it so they can review it first. That’s fair. If the Selangor MB says there’s no need for students to take the loans, then PTPTN need not give out the loans,” he was reported as saying.

Students threaten to protest over freeze

PTPTN's decision to freeze loans for Unisel students has left a student's group livid. SSM also takes the DPM to task for endorsing the move.

PETALING JAYA: A students’ group has threatened to take to the streets over the freeze of PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation) loans for new students enrolled at the Selangor-owned Universiti Selangor (Unisel).

Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), which represents 15 student bodies, said it would give PTPTN one week to resolve the issue or they would hold demonstrations.

SMM secretary Haziq Abdul Aziz told FMT that Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin acted in bad faith and indulged in “cheap politics”.

“Khaled is an unprofessional public officer. He should be non-partisian and not biased. Not act as an exco of his own political party.

“He should remember his salary is paid by the rakyat’s tax money and act as a fair government officer. He should not be going after PKR and (Opposition Leader) Anwar (Ibrahim) and make us students political victims,” he added.

Haziq also said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak seemed “not to care” about the issue as he remained silent.

“That means that he is allowing his people to do things like this, he is in cahoots with Khaled,” he added.

Both MIC and MCA objected to the freeze but Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin described the move as fair.

Commenting on Muhyiddin’s statement, Haziq said it was “embarrassing” that even the country’s number two was supporting what Khaled and PTPTN did.

“It is very embarrassing that DPM is supporting what has been done to the Unisel students. What have the students done wrong?

“It is Anwar who said what he said, if you want to attack Anwar, then fine. Play politics with Anwar. But don’t play politics with the students, students are not politicians.

“This is an act of oppression,” he stressed.

‘Outright discrimination’

A student group from Unisel, Aksi Mahasiswa Peduli, said that so far, a lot of information remained sketchy over the issue.

The group’s secretary Ekhsan Bukharee Badarul Hisham described what happened as an “outright discrimination”.

“Education should not be politicised. And Khaled must be responsible over what is being done.

His tweet has also angered many students. So we have to now try to find a way to clear the mess that has been caused,” he added.

Yesterday, news reports revealed that the PTPTN froze its loans for new students enrolled at Unisel.

The freeze reportedly began last month, when fresh intakes started, and did not affect those already receiving loans.

Khaled had confirmed the freeze and said the decision was made following “political pressure” from the opposition over free education. He stressed that it was a temporary move.

Writting about the matter on micro-blogging site, Twitter, Khaled had said: “Unisel boleh hapuskan yuran, dgn sendirinya memenuhi matlamat pendidikan percuma dan penutupan PTPTN yg dilaungkan Anwar dan Pakatan, (Unisel can abolish its fees, thereby fulfilling the goal of free education and the closure of PTPTN as proclaimed by Anwar and Pakatan).

The move drew flak from opposition leaders, with Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim accusing PTPTN of discrimination and vowed to take the matter up to the federal government.

PKR’s strategy director Rafizi Ramly subsequently demanded Khaled to reveal if he ordered the freeze, alleging that the minister was most probably making a “childish” and “revengeful” move against Pakatan over the ongoing PTPTN issue.

The PTPTN issue had been raging for several months following PKR’s campaigning that the student loan scheme should be abolished to pave the way for free education.

India Offers Scholarship Programme For Diaspora Children

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- The Indian government today announced a special scholarship programme for the children of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to pursue undergraduate, professional and general courses in India for the 2012-2013 academic year.

The Indian High Commission, here, in a statement said the scholarship programme offered 75 per cent of the institutional economic cost, which included tuition fee, hostel fee and other institutional charges or US$4,000 (RM12,489) per annum, whichever is less.

It is open for various disciplines of undergraduate courses such as engineering, architecture, technology, commerce, business administration, business management, computer applications, sciences, law and ayurvedam except medical-related courses.

The applicants should be aged 17 to 21, as on Oct 1, this year and with the family's total income not exceeding US$2,250 (RM7,052) per month.

Selection will be based on marks obtained by the candidates in the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) or 'A' Levels or equivalent examination.

Applicants must score 60 per cent aggregate marks or equivalent grades at higher secondary level as recognised by the Association of Indian Universities, and must study the prescribed essential subjects at the qualifying examination level to pursue a particular course of study.

The application forms are available from the Indian High Commission, Education Wing, Level 28, Menara 1 Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur or can be downloaded from www.indianhighcommission.com.my/spdc.php, and further information can be accessed from www.edcilindia.co.in.

Applicants may send their forms to The Project Manager (SPDC), Placement and Secondment Division, Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed. CIL), Ed. CIL House, No. 18A, Sector-16A, NOIDA-201 301, Uttar Pradesh, India not later than June 10.

Students charged over flowers, tombstone demo

They will face Universiti Malaya’s disciplinary board on May 3.

KUALA LUMPUR: Three students are facing the wrath of University Malaya authorities for demonstrating with garlands of flowers and a tombstone.

The three—third year Islamic political science student Mohd Syahid Zaini (photo), third year Islamic education student Safwan Anang and first year law student Haziq Abdul Aziz—will face the university’s disciplinary board on May 3 to defend themselves against charges of causing public disorder and embarrassment to the university.

Syahid told reporter today that all three faced the same two charges.

They were among students who participated in Abolish PTPTN protest at Dataran Merdeka last April 14. A group of them marched to an area near the Sogo shopping complex, shouting anti-PTPTN and anti-Barisan Nasional slogans.

They placed on the ground framed pictures of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Noordin, wrapped a garland around each and stuck a tombstone between them.

Syahid is chairman of the Malaysia Bangkit student movement. Safnan and Hazik lead Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia, another student activist group.

“The university is claiming that our actions resemble a Hindu ritual,” Syahid said.

The university is charging them under Section 16c of the Universiti Malaya Methods (Student Regulations) 1999.

PTPTN mesti mansuh dulu

APA pun PTPTN mestilah dimansuhkan dulu serentak dengan pengumuman pelajaran percuma hingga ke universiti.
Beban pertama yang perlu ditangani ialah membebaskan para pelajar dari hutang  sejak hari pertama melangkah ke universiti atau kolej.

Dalam sistem sekarang baik kaya dan apa lagilah miskin sebaik melangkah ke menara gading disediakan dengan hutang yang berbunga. Sebaik bekerja dan sejak gaji bulan pertama terpaksa membayar hutang.

Ia mesti dibebaskan dulu.

Tidak berbangkit tiada yang sanggup ke universiti apabila PTPTN mansuh, kerana universiti disediakan secara percuma.

Apabila ia dikatakan percuma tentu semua perkara besar yang melibatkan kewangan akan dikendalikan oleh kerajaan yang mendapat RM80 bilion setahun dari hasil minyak dan gas.

Anwar  Ibrahim yang pernah menjadi menteri pelajaran termasuk bertanggungjawab terhadap pelajaran tinggi pada masanya tahu keperluan setiap universiti  dan kolej.

Belajar dari pengalaman PAS memerintah Kelantan sejak tahun 1959, tiada lulusan STP boleh masuk universiti tanpa penaja sekali pun sijilnya cemerlang. Seluruh pelajar dari Kelantan termasuk yang dapat sijil tidak penuh ditaja oleh kerajaan Kelantan.

Antara mereka masuk kampus tak berduit. Berhempas pulaslah Prof. Diraja Ungku Aziz mengikhtiarkan keperluan mereka. Selama 19  tahun PAS memerintah hanya setahun  saja pelajar Kelantan tidak jadi pelajar yang teramai dibandingkan dengan setiap negeri.

17 buah sekolah yang terbaik masa itu terhadap di tiga buah kota iaitu Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh dan Pulau Pinang. Tidak termasuk sekolah di Kelantan, tetapi siswa yang teramai bukan dari Selangor,  Perak dan Pulau Pinang bahkan dari Kelantan.

Perdana Menteri kata, jika PTPTN dimansuhkan kerajaan terpaksa tanggung RM43 bilion. Anwar yang pernah jadi menteri kewangan kata, RM43 bilion itu bukan peruntukan setahun. Yang disediakan oleh kerajaan sekarang tiga bilion saja setahun. Tetapi PR sedia belanjakan lima bilion setahun dari 80 bilion setahun dari hasil minyak untuk tampung keperluan ganti PTPTN itu.

Bukan Najib saja pernah jadi menteri kewangan dan menteri pelajaran. Anwar pun pernah jadi menteri pendidikan  dan menteri kewangan.

Kata Khaled Nordin, menteri pengajian tinggi, tanpa PTPTN tutup  semua universiti swasta (IPTS). Khaled Nordin tidak pernah jadi menteri kewangan dan tiada pengalaman jaga kementerian pelajaran. Anwar lebih banyak pengalaman dan dia adalah pengerusi jawatankuasa anti penyelewangan. Dia tahu ke mana  tumpah kuah.

Tidaklah 100 bajet universiti swasta datang dari dana kerajaan, tetapi kekurangan peruntukan disebabkan oleh ketiadaan PTPTN tentulah dapat ditampung oleh kerajaan yang menyediakan peruntukan lima bilion tadi.

Pelajaran bagi Pakatan Rakyat adalah termasuk dalam negara berkebajikan. Ia bukan produk yang diswastakan seperti di bawah BN. Konsep swasta adalah mencari sebanyak-banyak untung. Banyak siswa, maka banyaklah pulangannya. Mutu pengajian jadi perkara kedua.

Tetapi di bawah pelajaran percuma, mutu pengajian diutamakan dan ia mesti memenuhi kehendak kebajikan. Sebagaimana graduan Kelantan dengan standard pengajiannya yang bermutu balik membangunkan Kelantan, maka nilai pelajar yang keluar dari semua universiti, tentulah dapat membangunkan negara, bangsa dan agama atau bermoral tinggi.

Kita jangan berbalah dulu tentang ganti PTPTN dan macam nak tangani kampus tanpa PTPTN. Mansuh  dulu PTPTN dan laksanakan pelajaran percuma. Setelah itu kita fikirkan bagaimana  anak orang kaya dan anak orang miskin.

Persoalan pertamanya jangan jadikan PTPTN sebagai ah long kepada pelajar.

Menuntut ilmu adalah ibadat. Bebaskan pelajar dari gejala  riba membatalkan ibadat bahkan jadi maksiat pula. Bebaskan pelajar dari berhutang kerana hutang itu menyebabkan ibadat tidak sampai ke langit dan  doa tidak makbul. Kejayaan dalam pelajaran bukan sekadar cerdik dan rajin studi, tetapi dibantu oleh doa. Kalau siswa berhutang doa untuk lulus cemerlang dan dapat kehidupan baik tidak tercapai kerana halangan hutang.

Jika universiti dan kolej jadi tempat ibadat dan doa dimakbulkan, maka melimpah ruahlah bantuan dari Allah. Ramailah orang kaya memberi zakat kepada kampus sebagai ganti kepada PTPTN. Apabila  universiti makmur, maka bukan orang miskin saja dapat kebajikan dari pengajian percuma, anak orang kaya juga boleh dapat pelajaran percuma. Belanja dari orang kaya untuk pengajiannya adalah sedekah.

Islam agama diterima di sisi Allah. Malulah kepada Sweden,  Norway dan Finland bukan Islam dapat memberi kebajikan kepada pengajiannya, negara Islam mencari keuntungan dari bidang pelajaran.

Exit PTPTN, enter special fund

A special fund to aid students will be set up if Pakatan dismantles the PTPTN after coming into power.

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR said today it will set up a special fund to aid students with their daily expenses while studying by providing fixed-cost loans once Pakatan Rakyat abolishes the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) if it wrests federal power.

Its strategic director Rafizi Ramli said this would counter attempts by political rivals to twist PKR’s proposal.

This plan was included in a five-point framework to implement a free education policy and to replace the current PTPTN scheme which critics claim saddled graduates with huge debts even before they were employed.

First in its plan would be to set up a technical university aimed at increasing high learning chances for everyone, which Rafizi said was important to balance the number of offers in public institutes compared to private institutes.

This would therefore prevent future dependence on paid higher education, he reasoned.

Rafizi then said a Pakatan federal government would finance tuition fees at public institutes and provide living cost allowances for qualified students based on their academic achievements, socio-economic backgrounds and family burdens.

“And those from high-income families can opt to bear school fees but can still qualify for a loan from a special fund to be set up for living costs allowance and private education,” he added.

PAS disagrees

The PKR leader said the framework would also consider applications from the same fund for those with no space in public varsities.

Its key element would be living allowances at a fixed rate taking into account subsidised fees by the government based on their courses.

Rafizi said only an estimated RM3 billion in the annual budget was required to see the success of the scheme which could easily be financed by the annual RM5 billion that could be saved by abolishing lopsided highway concessions.

“This clearly dismisses arguments that Malay/Bumiputera students will lose out if a free education policy is implemented as they cannot support themselves,” he said.

PKR had been leading the calls with regard to the PTPTN issue targeted at winning support from young Malay voters who make up one-sixth of the electorate.

However, its ally PAS said yesterday that it would be wrong to abolish the PTPTN without a proper replacement scheme.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said in an interview with a Malay daily published today that this replacement process must be fair to all Malaysians as propounded by Islam.

“That is why PTPTN cannot simply be abolished just like that. There has to be a process. A fair process which is not burdensome to the poor and one where the more privileged must bear responsibility,” he said.

Hansard shows Kit Siang and Guan Eng supported PTPTN

(Malaysian Digest) - The Parliament's hansard showed DAP Adviser Lim Kit Siang and his son Guan Eng had supported the bill of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), when it was tabled in the parliament in 1997.
The hansard, dated 14 May, 1997 stated that, Kit Siang and Guan Eng had both proposed that a higher allocation be provided for the PTPTN instead of RM100 million startup as proposed in the bill.
The hansard reads: "(Tuan Lim Kit Siang [Tanjong]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya mengalu-alukan Rang Undang Undang Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional untuk memperuntukkan satu tabung bagi membenarkan anak-anak kita berpeluang melanjutkan pendidikan tinggi dan menyediakan bantuan kewangan melalui pinjaman pendidikan atau selainnya kepada pelajar yang menuntut di institusi-institusi pengajian tinggi. (Tuan Lim Kit Siang [Tanjong]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, I welcome the Bill of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) to provide the opportunity for our children to pursue higher education and provide financial assistance through loans or otherwise to the education of students who are studying in institutions of higher learning.")
The hansard had stated that Kit Siang had said that the RM100 million startup allocation for the PTPTN as contained in the bill was insufficient and it should be increased to RM500 million.
His son Guan Eng was reported in the hansard of proposing a higher quantum than that by his father.
Guan Eng, was recorded as saying: "RM100 million is not enough. If the government is really sincere, they should consider to start at least with the amount of RM1 billion".
The bill was then tabled by Datuk Seri Najib Razak who was the Minister of Education.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who had raised issue with the PTPTN and had promised to abolish it if the opposition takes over the nation's rule, was the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister when the bill was tabled in 1997.
In fact, he was the acting Prime Minister then.
This was pointed out by former premeir Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said he was on a two-month leave when the bill was tabled and Anwar was then the acting Prime Minister.
Dr Mahathir in a Bernama report, said: "That is Anwar. He doesn't know what is he talking about; he is forgetful".
Blogger Ruang Bicara Faisal pointed out that Anwar held the post of acting Prime Minister from May 19 until July 26 1997, adding that Anwar should have cancelled the plan to establish the fund if he had doubts about it.
"At that time Anwar had the power as a Finance Minister who gives approval to PTPTN to start the operation, he also had the power as a Deputy Prime Minister and more importantly, he had the power as the acting Prime Minister. Even Dr Mahathir had said that Anwar had the full authority as a Prime Minister.
"And now he tries to influence the public that the PTPTN is a cruel act?," the blogger said.
Anwar's promise to abolish the PTPTN had led to a group of university students from the Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia to organize a demonstration at Dataran Merdeka last Saturday.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, as reported by Bernama, said students involved in the demonstration should repay the loan to prove that they do not want the PTPTN loan scheme.
"Universiti Selangor (Unisel), owned by the PKR-led Selangor state government, must also declare whether the PTPTN should be abolished," he said.

BN clearly stepping up violent intimidation for GE13? Assault at Dataran, 19/4/12

How some men in blue were left blue and black at Dataran

This is so, so funny, I just had to share it with all of you.
FMT reports that KL CPO Mohmad Salleh denied that cops who were present at Dataran early this morning allowed the thugs to run riot without taking any action.
To make his case, he laments that ‘two of our own plainclothes detectives were injured, so it is not right to say that the police did not act’.
I got an sms round about 5.30am this morning from one of the student leaders at Dataran, informing me about the attack.
I got to Dataran around 6.15am and managed to speak to some of the occupiers there, many of whom narrated to me how those cops got clobbered.
Quite simple, actually.
In the ensuing melee, they were mistaken for occupiers by the marauding thugs and got thumped.
Now what does this tell you?
Either those low life thugs have tungsten b@#$s or, obviously, these coppers made no effort to identify themselves to the thugs as officers of the law.
And how, one wonders, were they attempting to keep the peace if they did not identify themselves to the thugs as officers of the law?
So the one hoodlum got nicked because he bashed a cop or two.
Now, if he had not done this dastardly deed….
This CPO fella is real funny.
Asked why only 1 thug got picked up, he responded that “it was early in the morning and we could not differentiate between the attackers and those already there”.
You only need to view the video and you can tell one group from the other!
Twit!

Deputy minister backs students’ right to rally

However he also believes that the PTPTN is still relevant and just needs refinement.

PETALING JAYA: The students’ sit-in rally at Dataran Merdeka has ruffled many feathers but not those of Deputy Higher Education Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah.

In an exclusive interview with FMT last night, the outspoken deputy minister asserted that the students who have been camping there overnight since Saturday had every right to voice their opinion over an issue that is “close to their hearts”.

Over 300 students had set up camp in Dataran Merdeka over the weekend to push for free tertiary education and the abolishment of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan scheme.

As expected, the ruling government has criticised the move while members of the opposition have gone down to the ground to offer their support.

Saifuddin, however, acknowleged the students’ right to occupy Dataran Merdeka as long as the sit-in was conducted within the parameters of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011.

“Considering that the police haven’t taken any action, my reading of the sit-in is that it is legal,” he said. “And it is their right although I personally believe that the PTPTN is still relevant and just needs improvement.”

“Whether or not these students get support from their peers or the same kind of sentiment from the public is another matter. I’m not saying I agree they should be there but it is their right and I recognise it.”

Saifuddin’s stand will be seen as gracious compared to that of Higher Education Minister, Khaled Nordin, who yesterday challenged the students to return the loan money currently used to fund their education if they were so unhappy with it.

When asked whether he agreed with Khaled, Saifuddin said that that viewpoint was separate matter altogether.

Though mindful of his position, he nevertheless said that any disagreement over the issue should be directed solely at the students’ demands and their choice in voicing them.

“If we look at the issue from other perspectives, then it is like telling someone who can’t play football to play basketball instead,” Saifuddin said.

“That’s not the way to handle things. If they love football but can’t play well then we should facilitate football instead of discussing basketball.”

‘I’m put in a spot



The Temerloh MP added that he too would have visited the students in Dataran Merdeka if not for the garland of flowers that they had placed on framed pictures of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, and Khaled on Saturday.

He noted that the flowers were a Hindu symbolism for death and that it was “uncalled for” to use them in this instance.

“It is a little difficult for me to visit the students after they put flowers on my boss,” Saifuddin said. “That has put me in a spot. And the situation is a little heated at the moment.”

“Then there have been opposition leaders who have visited the students, which is their right, but which has also given a certain perception to some people.”

This isn’t the first time that Saifuddin has backed student rallies. Last December, he found himself in hot water after he defended the rights of all students to assembly and voice their views even after a protester lowered a banner bearing Najib’s likeness outside the Umno headquarters.

An angry pro-government group responded by demanding that Saifuddin take responsibility for the “banner incident” by resigning from his position as deputy minister and Umno supreme council member.

But Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) came to Saifuddin’s defence, saying that he had been made “victim by certain parties in the government”.

Mahathirism and bailouts for cronies: Why do students need loans to go to university

Today, the raging debate is about PTPTN loans. Buried within this concern that has gone viral and public today is a long and festering issue of making education into a business to profiteer from. The trophy of course goes to Tun Dr Mahathir although he has recently and as usual, blamed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim entirely.
When the Pakatan Leader announced that the Opposition political party will do away with education loans and ensure everyone had free access to higher education, the avalanche of BN machinery has come cascading.
Senior BN personalities have immediately dismissed the notion of free education. Their arguments ranged from maintaining that the nation would be bankrupted to one of one of putting the blame entirely on the head of DSAI. How pathetic.
But history is recorded. Let us take a trip down memory lane.
This is what Tunku said
In 1958 the late YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj declared, “Here I would like to emphasize that there is one thing the Government will not consider in terms of lack of money, and that is the question of education. In this case, the Government is giving special consideration in order to honor its education policy. The future of the country depends a great deal on the students of today.”
We did not have petro-dollars then; we did not have the highly profitable palm oil either. We were a poor, fourth-world nation that had just earned its independence after having lost so much wealth to feed and comfort the colonial powers. But Bapa Malaysia had that courage, determination and wisdom to recognize that education was the cornerstone for the future of the nation. He made it very clear that the Government must shoulder this responsibility fully.
And YTM Tunku encapsulated the role and responsibility very clearly – one that does not let money to be the impediment of education. If the money had to be found, it better be found so that every one can have free education.
And what Hussein Onn said
If that is not enough, let us hear out another Visionary Leader, the late YAB Dato’ Hussein Onn who held in 1979, “It has always been the Government’s desire to widen the opportunities and access to higher education for all. Tertiary education should not be confined only to those who can afford or those who come from higher income groups. But, it should be available to everyone who qualifies.”
Again, a right thinking Government ensured that there are no financial impediments to further education.
Then came Mahathirism
But look at what Mahathirism has yoked the rakyat with. Through all kinds of unprecedented privatization policies, crutches, favoritism, Ali Baba schemes, and what have you, the visions of our past Leaders were systematically dismantled and abandoned by the doctor who helmed the nation for 22 years.
And today when the students, unable to continue any longer with the burden of PTPTN loan schemes – given the spiraling cost of living and shrinking purse strings, raise the alarm what do we get in rebuttal?
> blaming the Opposition leader;
> challenging the opposition held States to go it alone;
> attempting to justify by stating that the Government already subsidizes the cost of education;
> taking high handed action against protestors; threatening that the country would sink into bankruptcy if education was free;
> accusing those in support of free education of becoming victims of populist ideologies – all of these despite having created for the select and privileged few a handful of billionaires;
> extravagant lifestyles for BN leaders and their families;
> recording eyebrow-raising profits year in, year out for some select companies;
> and what have you.
Just shut up and study!
One cannot question the wheeler-dealer mega million businesses inked under cloak and cover of the Official Secrets Act (OSA); arresting and shutting down people in the know who question such deals with the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) and beating up people with scare tactics and chemical laced water cannons if they protest in public.
"Your job students is to shut up and study, otherwise we will throw you out" has been the all too often threat billowed down the necks of students who moaned and groand under the trying conditions.
Too busy with bailouts for cronies
It is not a problem to pump billions of ringgit into loss making Government ventures; it is also okay to rescue sons and daughters and proxies when they hit troubled financial waters, thereby costing the nation’s coffers millions of ringgit.
So Mahathir set in motion an idea that was contrary to what YAB Dato’ Hussein Onn and YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj had about education. For the Tun and BN, education cannot be free. If you want we will lend you some money but you better pay up or else we will come after you like a blood hound.
Today when it comes to education, all the way from pre-school to the graduate corridors it is money making. From school bags to pencils, from text books to workbooks, from sports to extra-curriculum activities, from projects to examinations – it is money. Even to get to do your mandatory internship, you have to fork out your own money because the pittance paid by some organizations cannot even buy you one lunch every day.
No money, no talk.
And on top of that you have to borrow from your own Government and earn your guts out to make good all payments.

So, in a nutshell is it not a case of bonded slavery in disguise? The ordinary rakyat must slog all the way to his or her tombstone making others richer. If you happen to get rich through the long corridors of education, sheer hard work, and some luck, you must also keep paying the rent-seekers to keep moving on, right?
When do we say enough is enough? When do we say the buck stops right here? When do wake up and see the whole truth? And how?
It is only when we are all agreed on the answers to these questions can we start back from where our founding fathers YAB Dato’ Hussein Onn and YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj left us.
Otherwise, we are headed in one direction – all the way downhill for a crash landing. But by then the pilots would have fled to their havens under the pretext of giving others a chance to lead, you know.
Malaysia Chronicle