PTPTN: IT'S A DUTY TO REPAY LOANS – PAS

KUALA LUMPUR: Contrary to Parti Keadilan Rakyat which wants the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) to be abolished, Pas leaders yesterday said all Muslims who had borrowed should repay their loans as stipulated in Islam.

Pas Youth deputy head Nik Abduh Nik Aziz, who is the son of its spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, said this was according to syariah.

"These students must repay their loans as Islamic law carries a valid contract regarding debt repayment. Whoever borrows must return the money," he said.

Former Perak menteri besar and Pas central working committee member Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, in agreeing, said according to Islamic principles, those who had taken a loan should repay it, unless the loan was written off by the lender.

"People must honour agreements to repay their loans until the government decides to write them off," he said when met at the Parliament lobby.

However, Pas vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar, when asked about it, remained evasive saying that even rich students deserved education aid from zakat funds.

They were reacting to a statement on Monday by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin that students who wanted the PTPTN to be abolished should return their loans or refrain from taking them.

Read more: Pas: It's a duty to repay loans - Politics - New Straits Times 

SPEAK UP ON ALLEGATION, AZMIN TOLD
CHALLENGE: Kita president seeks the truth

KUALA LUMPUR: PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali  should clear the air  over his wife's alleged affair with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) president Zamil Ibrahim yesterday challenged Azmin to issue a statement refuting the allegation.

"If he (Azmin) can criticise Barisan Nasional when its members fail to answer allegations against them, then he should be brave enough to speak out against this allegation if it is a lie.

"He needs to take up this challenge if he is not a coward as described by Senator Datuk S. Nallakaruppan."

Zamil said he was puzzled as to why Azmin had refused to sue Nallakaruppan if the allegation was untrue.

"It's disgraceful behaviour."

Zamil also urged Azmin's sister, Ummi Hafilda Ali, who has a long-standing feud with her brother over the supposed affair, to contest against Azmin in the Gombak parliamentary constituency.

Azmin, when contacted, refused to comment on the allegation.

"Stop slander and gutter politics," he said via a text message.


-NST