There is so much talk and promises by the opposition about doing away with PTPTN and providing free education to all. Dr. Mahathir Mohamad wrote that no other government like our present government spends so much allocation on education.  In fact, the government spends almost 25 percent of the annual budget on education. Besides, there has been a lot of other subsidies provided by the government.

That's why the government has set up PTPTN as a rolling fund that will continue to provide opportunities for all those qualified to pursue their higher education. The government somehow has to pick up the  bill. Otherwise, if education is provided free for all, it would mean indirectly even the poor has to bear the cost for the rich.

Perhaps there is the need for PTPTN or the Ministry of Higher Education to devise a formula whereby the students do not have to take 100 per cent loan. A certain percentage could be given in the form of scholarship particularly for those who really deserve to be given the award. The full criteria would have to be worked out to the deserving ones. In all fairness and in equality, the award portion may not necessarily be based entirely on merits. There could be other considerations like the income of their parents and family backgrounds.

On the other hand, those who are entitled to receive full scholarship (100 per cent) based on their scholastic performance and merits, may not be given the full amount. The government should perhaps make them pay a certain portion so that they feel the need  to shoulder a certain responsibility apart from the government paying for the education.

In this case, I think, there would be greater equality in the disbursement of the fund, and the people would be happy.