YOURSAY | And we must also separate education from religion.

Tax the rich to give free education, PAS tells Harapan

Kural: It is both encouraging and refreshing to hear PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang say that one way for the government to provide free education is “by combatting corruption”.

It would also be good if he had mentioned the current national need for a qualitative emphasis on public-funded education institutions and for a balanced focus on a range of curricula.

What is prevailing seems to be a stultified public education system incapable of fostering a dynamic and progressive socioeconomic society.

The nation could possibly have been well-placed to extend free public education if there was no wastage and thieving of public money in the last few decades.

Pakatan Harapan’s problems could be better addressed if it is enabled by some manner of new legislative authority to confiscate, where legitimately possible, all the disproportionate assets acquired by politicians in the last two decades. Hadi could surely support such efforts.

Clever Voter: Recovering ill-gotten wealth from corrupt politicians should be the first step.

Education has always received the lion’s share of the nation's budget. But the outcomes have been miserable, with all the wrong outcomes that include many unemployed graduates, budget leakages and mismanagement.

It is easy for Hadi to suggest such an idea, but he should begin with himself by raising the education standards of his constituents instead of spending time on his own agenda.

Anonymous_1543386425: Kelantan can't even pay state government staff salaries.

In other words, you cannot take care of your children and you want the rest of the country to help you take care of them whilst you run Kelantan back into medieval times?

And yet you are hoping that you would be given the chance to run Malaysia?

P Dev Anand Pillai: So indirectly it means that Paul would be robbed to educate Peter, free of charge.

But when Paul's children and his kin seek to be educated, can they also ask for a free route, like what Peter and his kin get?

How on earth is corruption to be combatted here, when we can't even start a trial for a former prime minister who had been charged for grand corruption?

Our nation has simply been brought up to think that corruption is a way of life, and all that we need to do is learn to keep it discreet.

So how on earth are we to provide free education, when we can't even keep a tight lid on our federal Treasury?

RZee: It is not only in Islam that education is the pillar of life. It is a human necessity and right. Leave Islam out of this.

As for taxing the rich, shouldn't it start with first combatting corruption and returning the alleged RM90 million and all of Najib’s allegedly stolen wealth?

And isn't it a real joke that this man who stifles learning in Kelantan wants education, but at the same time wants to revert back to practices like chopping hands and stoning?

TCM: I thought we already have that system? If I am not mistaken, it is called income tax, and that is why public university programmes are heavily subsidised and national schools are already mostly free.

If someone cannot afford tertiary education but has potential, there is something called “scholarships”.

Clearwater: Hadi, this goes to show what a simple mind you have. Tax the genuine rich unfairly, and they will resent you bitterly.

There is already a progressive income tax structure in place where high-income earners pay proportionately more.

The truly rich did not get rich by being stupid, lazy or corrupt. They are the entrepreneurs and business people whose drive is to successfully create jobs and maintain a vibrant economy. Do you want them to leave?

Why don't you start with a new state tax on the rich in Kelantan and see what happens? As it is, Kelantanese who want to make it go elsewhere.

Anonymous 770241447347646: It has all got to do with plugging the loopholes in the system of wastages and corruption.

The previous administration is fully responsible for the situation the nation is in. If the country’s finances were in order, maybe full student loans could have been written off.

Secondly, it is important to instil values in our students. If you have taken a loan, then it should be a principle to return the monies borrowed.

Maybe in the future when the finances are well-placed, the administration may introduce free education right up to university level.

The most important aspect is that the education system must be of a world-class level so that our students can be accepted in any university and get employment anywhere.

We have to separate religion from the education system if we want students to be critical thinkers, unless we have our own agenda to control their mindsets.

Just a Malaysian: Hadi should start by positively supporting all actions to stop corruption and stimulate economic growth. He could do that by swaying support against all suspected wrongdoers and seeing them pay the price.

He could help economic growth by creating harmony among the people and reducing fear and hatred. He could use his leadership to get Muslims to espouse the values of working hard, studying hard and being productive citizens.

There are many positive things Hadi can do to build a better Malaysia.

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