NATIONAL Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) chairman Wan Saiful Wan Jan has stressed that his appointment did not go against Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto, which pledged to get rid of political appointees at government-linked companies (GLC), as the agency is a statutory body.

“I was involved in the process of drafting the PH manifesto, and I would like to explain that the use of words in the manifesto was done in detail.

“When we made a decision where the appointment in GLC has to be based on professionalism, we differentiated between a GLC and a statutory body,” he told reporters at the PTPTN building in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said a statutory body is aimed at helping the people or to resolve socio-economic issues and does not act as a GLC.

“In the manifesto, we were concerned with the appointment in the GLC, not the statutory body.

“Those who criticised (my appointment), I welcome them to read the manifesto again.”

Wan Saiful contested the Pendang seat in the 14th general election but lost, which led critics to ask if his appointment as PTPTN chief was a reward.

Education Minister Maszlee Malik recently come to his defence, saying that Wan Saiful was appointed after several other people declined to accept the post. – July 16, 2018.