The proposal by the Pakatan Rakyat to scrap the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) if it wins the next general election shows the irresponsible attitude of the opposition, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the proposal, if implemented, would only cause immense hardship to parents in educating their children.

"It is easy for him (Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim) to talk because the opposition is not holding the reins of government and has no sense of responsibility.

"Those who owe PTPTN might like it, but this will result in serious problems... don't think only of short-term gains," he told reporters in Bangi today.

christmas school 261211 muhyiddin Furthermore, he said, Pakatan had yet to deliver on its promises made in its 2008 election manifesto in the states it was governing.

On Anwar's statement in a news portal that the Barisan Nasional (BN) will not be able to win back Selangor in the next GE, Muhyiddin (right) said what was important was what the people thought about Pakatan's administration of the state.

"Are they satisfied?" he asked.

Muhyiddin said the BN was aware it would face a stiff challenge in Selangor in the next GE because Pakatan would "fight tooth and nail" to keep the state.

However, he said BN knew what the people of Selangor wanted and knew that the BN was a better choice.

In Bentong, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Malaysia would become bankrupt in two years if Pakatan were to fullfil three promises it was making to the people if were to win next GE.

Speaking to reporters after attending the PTA annual general meeting of SK Felda Sertik, Liow who is also MCA deputy president said the three promises - abolishing road tolls, minimum monthly wage of RM4,000 and scrapping the PTPTN - would entail a cost of RM200 billion yearly, which the government could ill afford.

- Bernama