Anwar's PTPTN remarks 'irresponsible'

MCA has lashed out at the opposition leader for urging students not to repay their National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans, calling his remarks "selfish and irresponsible".

Anwar Ibrahim had made the call last Saturday at a ceramah in his parliamentary stronghold, Permatang Pauh, saying Pakatan Rakyat would abolish PTPTN in the same year that it comes into power.

The call is just Anwar's "usual populist measures" to solicit votes in order to wrest the prime minister's post, MCA national organising secretary Tee Siew Kiong (left) said in a statement yesterday.

"The sad thing is that he seems to be proud of his irresponsible remarks," said Tee, lamenting how opposition leaders have dared to publicly defy the law and "degrade the integrity" of young Malaysians by doing so.

Tee cautioned against voting for Pakatan as their policies, such as abolishing PTPTN, would "bankrupt the nation".

"Our nation's economy will plummet as our rakyat can ‘borrow' and not repay any loans," he charged.

Calling on the opposition to distinguish between "right and wrong", he called Anwar's remarks a "violation" of the federal constitution and urged people to see through his facade.

"Pakatan will simply amend any law or rulings (on a) whim and even abolish them if unfavourable to Pakatan. The rakyat must not let our country sink into bankruptcy," he said.

Tee also claimed that the opposition would not hesitate to sacrifice the interests of the country for the sake of power.