Rafizi accuses Machang MP of misleading Dewan Rakyat about PTPTN loans, demands action

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 —Economic Affairs Minister Rafizi Ramli today called on the Dewan Rakyat to take action against Opposition MP Wan Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal for misleading the House with his remarks on the student loans from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).

According to Rafizi, Wan Fayhsal had violated Rule 36(12) of the Standing Orders with a statement claiming that the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition had promised to wipe out outstanding PTPTN debts owed by the student borrowers in the 15th general election manifesto last year if it took federal power.

“According to Rule 36(12), any member who makes a statement that misleads the House is deemed to have insulted the House, and that member can be referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee for the offence.

“YB Machang previously stated that PH would abolish PTPTN in its manifesto previously,” he said, referring to Wan Fayhsal by his constituency.

“That is a lie because there is no such promise in the recent PH manifesto,” he added.

Rafizi had interrupted the Machang MP to put forward the motion to the parliamentary committee just as Wan Fayhsal was asking Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin about the government’s plan to abolish PTPTN loans for targeted groups, notably those from low-income families.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Ramli Mohd Nor who was presiding over the sitting then told Rafizi to put his motion in writing.

Before Rafizi’s interruption, Mohamed Khaled said that the government does not have a plan to abolish PTPTN loans for the poor.

“Based on PTPTN's initial projections or estimates, the proposed cancellation of PTPTN loans targeting the poor and the B40 housing issue will involve a total of 1.84 million borrowers with a total cancellation of disposals of RM42.34 billion,” he said.

B40 refers to the bottom 40 per cent income earners in the country.

Even so, Mohamed Khaled said the government has several other initiatives to ease the burden of repaying the loan.

For example, repayment is only required after 12 months of the borrower completing his studies.

He added that payment can be deferred further if the borrower decides to continue with studies or has not obtained employment by then.

Mohamed Khaled explained that the current government does not consist of only PH but other coalitions and going forward, the administration under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will decide on matters based on the common issues listed in their disparate manifestos. This includes the PTPTN loans.

“In this matter, I hope we accept the fact that the important thing we are talking about in PTPTN is capacity and sustainability,” he added.

Wan Fayhsal later told reporters that Rafizi had misheard his question about PTPTN and explained he was not demanding if the government were going to wipe out the debts for all borrowers but only for targeted groups.