AFTER civil society organisations called on the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) to be accountable for its zakat (tithe) payments to the Kedah Zakat Board, the fund said besides contributing RM1 million, it also held ceremonies for the handover of payments to the zakat boards of Malacca, Penang, Johor, Pahang, Negri Sembilan and Sarawak, adding that similar ceremonies will be held in other states if agreed to by each state’s Islamic authorities (Malay Mail, December 29, 2018).

PTPTN’s statement raises questions as it has said zakat contributions are made to all states’ zakat boards.

Today, the public is still in the dark on the amount of PTPTN’s investment gains last year to justify its zakat contributions, the total amount of which is not disclosed. Despite that, Inisiatif Pengislahan Pendidikan Negara (IPPN) regrets to note that PTPTN has already made its commitment to contribute zakat to the various states’ boards, which may be of considerable sum, in the range of RM13 million, assuming that the same amount – RM1 million – given to the Kedah board has been given or shall be given to each state.

We, the following civil society organisations, view with great concern PTPTN’s approach to its corporate social responsibility

1) When the fund is still plagued by the problem of billions in outstanding student loans yet to be recovered;

2) When PTPTN is still not financially independent in fulfilling its primary objective to grant student loans, but has to rely on public or federal funds to achieve the purpose; and,

3) When PTPTN is still indebted to institutions, like banks, to the tune of RM51.2 billion, as reported in Free Malaysia Today on December 28, 2018, where C4 referred to a statement by PTPTN deputy chief executive officer (policy and operations) Mastura Mohd Khalid.

We therefore call on PTPTN to

1) Disclose its audited accounts to the public;

2) Account for its billion-ringgit debts and ability to repay the debts;

3) Account for its ability to recover billions of ringgit in student loans, which would become a rolling fund to allow for further student loans and see PTPTN becoming less dependent on public or federal funds;

4) Account for its current investment gains; and,

5) Disclose its ability to meet its primary objective of granting students loans independently.

We further call on the related government agencies, bodies, institutions and ministries to review and revamp the old and inappropriate practices of the previous corrupted government, to ensure good governance with accountability and transparency, to eliminate rent-seeking and corrupt practices. – January 2, 2019.

* Issued by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Tamil Foundation Malaysia, Merdeka University Bhd (Education Centre), LLG Cultural Development Centre and United Chinese School Teachers’ Association of Malaysia (Jiao Zong).

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.