KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government is prioritising education assistance for students from the poorest backgrounds, while incentives for high-performing students will be considered in stages.
Responding to concerns over the policy that exempts National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan repayment for first-class graduates at public higher education institutions, Anwar said education should ideally be as affordable as possible and support should be extended to those who need it most.
“We saw that there were outstanding loans totalling about RM10bil.
“So last year, I decided that we would provide free education for the poorest students first.
“We started with 5,000 people, then increased it to 10,000,” he said during the Temu Anwar programme at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) on Wednesday (Feb 4).
Anwar said the government is also in discussions with the Finance Ministry to explore ways to further increase assistance for students from underprivileged backgrounds.
On incentives for academically outstanding students, including those who achieve first-class honours, he acknowledged the issue and said it is being given due consideration.
Also present were MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, TAR UMT Board of Governors and Alumni Council chairman Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, and TAR UMT president Prof Datuk Dr Lee Sze Wei.
