A coalition of Malay rights groups, led by Perkasa, today urged Putrajaya to consider allowing only Bumiputeras to be exempt from repaying their National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan schemes.

They noted in their National Unity Memorandum that the majority of PTPTN borrowers exempted from repaying their loans were Chinese, and this could anger the Bumiputeras.

"The Malaysian government must take immediate action over the phenomenon of many non-Bumiputeras being exempted 100% from PTPTN, compared with the Bumiputera students," read the memorandum, which was drafted by a committee headed by Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

"At the same time, the Malaysian government must study the reasons why Bumiputera students' academics are declining, compared with non-Bumiputeras.

"In this context, the Malaysian government should review whether PTPTN exemptions should be given to Bumiputeras alone, in line with Article 153 of the Federal Constitution."

The current PTPTN systems allows for all its debtors who graduated with first-class honours to be exempt from repaying their loans, regardless of race.

But the memorandum by the Malay groups today warned that the rising trend of Chinese students enjoying the loan exemptions could jeopardise national unity.

They noted that in 2011, 8,818 Chinese students were exempted from repaying the PTPTN loans, compared with 2,347 Malays, and 456 Indians.

"If this issue is not handled wisely, it could result in Bumiputera students getting angry with PTPTN and upset with the Malaysian government.

"At the same time, this issue could potentially create anger among Bumiputera students towards non-Bumiputera students."

The memorandum also suggested that more non-Bumiputeras earned first-class honours compared with Bumiputeras because private higher education institutions (IPTS) were more "lenient" and had a "hidden agenda".

"Firstly, how and why are Bumiputera students unable to compete with non-Bumiputera students?

"Secondly, are PTPTN's actions caused by the lenient marking systems and curriculum of the IPTS, to the point that many non-Bumiputera students gain first-class honours, so that they need not repay their PTPTN loans?

"Thirdly, are Bumiputera students in the IPTS and IPTA not the cream of the creams? Fourthly, is there a hidden agenda by certain quarters in IPTS to allow many non-Bumiputeras to become exempted from repaying their PTPN?"

The memorandum was debated among over 300 Malay NGOs at the National Unity Convention in Kuala Lumpur today, before it was approved later in the evening.

The groups intend to send the National Unity Memorandum to the government, the Yang DiPertuan Agong and the Council of Rulers. – November 23, 2014.