Selangor challenged to give free education

FIRST-YEAR Universiti Selangor (Unisel) students should be accorded free education by the Selangor government. This was the challenge levelled by Taman Templer assemblyman Datuk Subahan Kamal yesterday, stating the state government should practice such a policy as it had more than enough capital in its coffers to accommodate it. “They only need RM30 million to give free education to first-year Unisel students,” he told reporters while the state assembly adjourned for lunch. “They have RM2.2 billion in their reserves, so what is holding them back?” Subahan was referring to statements made by Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali during Azmin’s debate on the supplementary budget tabled in the state assembly sitting yesterday. Azmin had brought up the issue of the federal government’s move to temporarily axe the disbursement of loans from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN). The short-lived ban was announced early last month, and could have affected some 1,000 students had it not been withdrawn. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin had last month said the freeze on the loans to first year Unisel students was a test for the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government to offer free education. The move received heavy criticism from Opposition leaders and even some Barisan Nasional (BN) politicians. Despite the lifting of the ban, the Selangor government had liquidated assets worth RM30 million in an effort help pay the students’ fees. The money would instead be used by the state to purchase Unisel hostel buildings to help lessen the burden of students who currently have to pay for lodgings. Subahan criticised Azmin’s debate on the supplementary budget, deeming it as nothing more than an attempt to gain “political mileage”. “This is not Parliament. Let us talk about state supplementary budget,” he said. “Use the opportunity to discuss how the budget will affect people.” Source: The Malay Mail Jarumemas: A promise before election!!