MCA Youth chief says PTPTN restructuring is flawed (Updated)

SUBANG JAYA: The proposed restructuring exercise of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) needs to be reviewed as there are flaws, MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon said today.
Chong said the reduce in loans offered to students in private universities by 15% is too much as the cost of learning in a private college/university cost much more than that of public institutions of higher learning.
In contrast, he said the reduction of 5% in loans for government university students will not affect the students much as their fees are highly subsidised.
Citing an example, he said, medical courses in private universities can cost as much as RM300,000 while the same course in government universities only costs about RM30,000.
"It's simple maths, 15% of costs in a private university will be a lot, while 5% in a public university won't amount to much," Chong told a press conference in Sunway Hotel Resort and Spa.
Chong who launched the two-day International Conference on Frontiers of Communications Network and Applications (ICFCNA) attended by about 200 industrial players from Malaysia, China, Thailand, Singapore, Germany, and others suggested that the percentages be swapped between the two so that students in private institutions of higher learning will not be badly affected by it.
When it was pointed out to him that the reduction in loans does not apply to medical courses, he said, it was just an example.
Chong said the government's intention to reduce loans in order to accommodate about 50,000 more recipients is commendable but must involve consultation with all relevant parties.
"The government needs to discuss with the private sector first and show statistics and data that say the reduction will allow for 50,000 more recipients will benefit. For now, there are no such details and on the surface it does not seem to be a good idea," he said.
Chong advised students to take up part time jobs to cover the reduction in loans as is a common practice among university students in other countries.