By Saiful Bahri Kamaruddin
Pix Shahidan Saidi

BANGI, 9 Mei 2015 – Judicious policies and measures to deal with the rising cost of living are being implemented so as not to burden the public, especially youths.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government had already introduced several measures, which include making available quality education, health services and building affordable homes.

“The cost of living is a main concern in every family, hence the government is committed to address this through policies and measures.

“Maybe the measures are not yet complete, but there have been many efforts (by the government) that are known, and many that are not known, directly and indirectly,” Najib explained.

Speaking when opening the forum title “Roundtable Discussion on the Rising Cost of Living” at The National University of Malaysia, here today, the prime minister said the government had provided access to quality education for all Malaysians, and assured that the democratisation of education was continued to create an intellectual society.

The discussion was organised by the Malaysian Young Thinkers Organisation (PPM) and the UKM Centre For Student Development and Alumni Relations to find solutions to mitigate financial burdens in the country.

Taking higher education as an example, government subsidies enjoyed by the students ensured that there is no increase in university tuition fees.

In fact, he pointed out that on average the government bore 90 percent of the cost of public higher education in the country, while the students only pay 10 percent of the cost.

“If you are not able to bear the remaining 10 per cent of the cost, the government provides National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loans even for students who receive scholarships,” he stated.

He described the aid as the democratisation of education in which access to quality education is not dependent on financial capability but the desire and determination to study.

He said it was different in many other countries where people are not able to pursue higher education due to high costs.

Also present were UKM vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali, Deputy Vice-Chancellors Prof. Datin Dr Noor Aziah Mohd Awal (Students and Alumni affairs), Prof Dr Imran Ho Abdullah (Industry and Community Partnerships) the Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and  Science Technology and Innovation deputy minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah.