PUTRAJAYA: All students with disabilities (OKU) studying at public higher education institutions, polytechnics and community colleges - totalling about 3,000 - will be granted free education with immediate effect, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the move marked a further expansion of the government’s free education initiative, which had initially focused on students from hardcore poor households.
“At the initial stage, as announced in the 2026 Budget, about 5,800 students from hardcore poor families were given free education,” he said when launching the National Education Development Plan (RPN) 2026-2035 on Tuesday (Jan 20).
But now, he said the programme had been expanded through additional support under the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), increasing assistance to 10,000 students from poor households.
“Today, I also want to announce that all OKU students at public higher education institutions, polytechnics and community colleges, numbering around 3,000, will be given free education starting now,” he said.
However, Anwar cautioned that while policy formulation was important, implementation remained the greater challenge.
Quoting poet TS Eliot, he said: “Between the ideals and the realities lies the shadow.”
He said there was often a wide gap between lofty goals and their actual execution, stressing that ministers, senior officials, vice-chancellors and directors must take collective responsibility for delivering the plan effectively.
“They are challenged by this plan and are obliged to provide monthly coverage and reports on its implementation.
“There is no point in launching a plan with great fanfare, strong rhetoric and impressive documents if implementation fails,” he said, adding that while the plan appeared world-class on paper, its true test lay in execution.
Anwar said all parties responsible must begin reviewing progress and submitting implementation reports from the end of March.
He added that the chief secretaries, heads of departments and ministers would be held fully accountable to ensure proper delivery.
“This is not merely a reminder, but a stern warning from me,” he said, expressing concern that many well-designed plans risked falling short due to weak implementation.
