Ini nota untuk saya menjelang PRU13. PTPTN jika dilihat daripada dimensi budak pinjam duit tidak mahu bayar, akan nampak sangat sempit dan mementimunkan mereka. Tetapi jika dilihat secara makro, terutamanya pemilikan IPTS dan jumlah akhir yang masuk ke kocek pelajar, isunya akan berubah.

Berikut adalah perkara-perkara yang masih membolehkan Malaysia bertahan, namun akan bangkrap jika pendidikan percuma direalisasikan.

1. PKFZ RM12 billion.
2. Submarine Commission RM500 million.
3. Sime Darby RM964 million.
4. Paya Indah Westland RM88 million.
5. Pos Malaysia (Transmile) RM230 million lost.
6. Eurocopter deal RM1 billion wasted.
7. Terengganu Stadium collapse RM292 million.
8. MRR2 repair cost RM70 million.
9. Maybank overpaid BII RM4 billion.
10. Tourism - NYY kickback RM10 million.
11. 3 paintings bought by MAS RM1.5 million.
12. Overpayment by Sport Ministry RM8.4 million.
13. London’s white elephant sports complex RM70 million.
14. MATRADE repairs RM120 million.
15. Cost of new plane used by PM RM200 million.
16. InventQ irrecoverable debt RM228 million.
17. Compensation for killing crooked bridge RM257 million.
18. Loss in selling Augusta RM 510 million.
19. Worth of APs given out in a year RM1.8 billion.
20. Submarines (future Muzium Negara artifacts) RM4.1 billion.
21. PSC Naval dockyard RM6.75 billion.
22. The Bank Bumiputra twin scandals in the early 1980s saw US$1 billion losses (RM3.2 billion in 2008).
23. The Maminco attempt to corner the World Tin Market in the 1980s is believed to have cost some US$500 million (RM1.6 billion).
24. Betting in foreign exchange futures cost Bank Negara Malaysia RM30 billion in the 1990s.
25. Perwaja Steel’s US$800 million (RM2.56 billion) losses.
26. Use of RM10 billion public funds in the Valuecap Sdn Bhd operation to shore up the stock market.
27. Banking scandal of RM700 million losses in Bank Islam.
28. The sale of M.V. Agusta by Proton for one Euro making a loss of €75.99 million (RM348 million) Same as No.20?.
29. Wang Ehsan from oil royalty on Terengganu RM7.4 billion from 2004 – 2007.
30. For the past 10 years since Philharmonic Orchestra.
was established, this orchestra has swallowed a total of RM500 million. Hiring a Kwai-Lo CEO with a salary of more than RM1 million per annum!
31. In Advisors Fees, Mahathir was paid RM180,000, Shahrizat Abdul RM404,726 and Abdul Hamid Othman (religious) RM549,675 per annum.
32. The government has spent a total of RM3.2 billion in teaching Maths and Science in English over the past five years. Of the amount, the government paid a whopping RM2.21 billion for the purchase of information and computer technology (ICT) equipment which it is unable to give a breakdown. Government paid more than RM6,000 per notebook vs per market price of less than RM3,000 through some new consortiums that was setup just to transact the notebook deal. There was no Maths & Science Content for the teachers and the notebooks are all with the teachers’ children now.
33. The commission paid for purchase of jets and submarines to two private companies - Perimeker Sdn Bhd and IMT Defence Sdn Bhd amounted to RM910 million. Expanding on No. 2?
37. RM300 million to compensate Gerbang Perdana for the RM1.1 billion “Crooked Scenic Half-Bridge”.
38. RM1.3 billion has been wasted building the white elephant Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities on cancellation of the Malaysia-Singapore Scenic Bridge.
39. RM100 million on renovation of Parliament building which leaks.
40. National Astronaut (actually tourist) Programme – RM40 million.
41. National Service Training Programme – yearly an estimate of RM 500 million.
42. Eye of Malaysia - RM30 million and another RM5.7 million of free tickets.
43. RM2.4 million on indelible ink.
44. Samy Vellu announced in September 2006 that the government paid compensation amounting to RM38.5 billion to 20 highway companies. RM380 million windfalls for 9 toll concessionaires earned solely from the toll hike in 2008 alone.
45. RM32 million timber export kickbacks involving companies connected to Sarawak Chief Minister and his family.
46. Two bailouts of Malaysia Airline System RM7.9 billion. At a time when MAS is incurring losses every year, RM1.55 million used to buy three paintings to decorate its Chairman’s (Munir) office. Expanding on No.11
47. Putra transport system bailout which cost RM4.486 billion.
48. STAR-LRT bailout costing RM3.256 billion.
49. National Sewerage System bailout costing RM192.54 million.
50. Seremban-Port Dickson Highway bailout costing RM142 million.
51. Kuching Prison bailout costing RM135 million.
52. Kajian Makanan dan Gunaan Orang Islam bailout costing RM8.3 million.
53. Le Tour de Langkawi bailout costing RM3.5 Million.
54. Wholesale distribution of tens of millions of shares in Bursa Malaysia under the guise of NEP to cronies, children and relatives of BN leaders and ministers worth billions of ringgit.
55. Alienation of tens of thousands of hectares of commercial lands and forestry concessions to children and relatives of BN leaders and Ministers worth tens of billions of ringgits.
56. Since 1997, Petronas has handed out a staggering RM30 billion in natural gas subsidies to IPPs who were reaping huge profits. In addition, there were much wastages and forward trading of Petronas oil in the 1990s based on the low price of oil then. Since the accounts of Petronas are for the eyes of the Prime Minister only, we have absolutely no idea of the amount.
57. RM5,700 for a car jack worth only RM50.
58. Government-owned vehicle consumed a tank of petrol worth RM113 within a few minutes.
59 A pole platform that cost RM990 was bought for RM30,000.
60. A thumb drive that cost RM90 was bought for RM480.
61. A cabinet that cost RM1,500 was bought for RM13,500.
62. A flashlight that cost RM35 was bought for RM143.
63. Expenses for 1Malaysia campaign paid to APCO?
64. RM17 billion subsidy to IPP.
65. US$24 million Diamond Ring for Ro$mah - Cancellation of Order - how much compensation?
66. CowGate … RM250 Million
67. Monsoon Cup RM800 million per year.
68. Illicit Fund Transfers out of Malaysia ( 2000 - 2009)- RM 1,077,000,000,000!
69. Tajudin-Danaharta settlement to cover up for Dr M and Daim.
70. Billions of ringgit toll concessions that disadvantage the government and taxpayers”.

Wassalaamu!

-Ust Hasrizal Abdul Jamil (Abu Saif)

As much as I would like to see the PTPTN scheme being abolished, I think it is rather unfair. PTPTN was not only used for tuition fees but also living expenses. If the government were to abolish PTPTN, will it be able to give away full scholarship to each and every student that goes to the university? 

While I think it is important for a government to provide free, quality education, I don’t think it should burden itself by providing them living expenses? And if we are to do that, why are we stopping at varsity level only? Why not to all students from kindergartens to primary school goers to secondary? That I think is a very unnecessary burden on the government which would also mean the tax payers. The money could be used for other things. 

My suggestion is that the government should waive the tuition fee in all public university, just like primary and secondary schools and provide an interest-free loan for the student’s living expenses. Those who don’t want to take the loan can start taking up part-time jobs, an experience that I think is important to tertiary level students. 

What about the current PTPTN debtors? Abolish the portion that was used to pay for tuition fees completely — which is about 30% of the total amount. The balance convert it into a zero interest loan.