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AN ACTIVIST has called on university students to step up efforts to push for free education and the abolition of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).
Muhamad Fadhil Muhamad Kassim took to social media to refer an earlier tweet by Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli, who had previously pledged to continue demonstrating to demand free education and the removal of PTPTN.
Muhamad Fadhil said students should follow the example set by the minister during his time as a student activist.
During the wave of student activism in the early 2010s, Adam became widely known as a leading voice pushing for free tertiary education in Malaysia, strongly advocating for the abolition of PTPTN student loans.
Through his participation in large-scale protests, he repeatedly highlighted the long-term financial strain placed on students who are forced to take on debt at a young age.
He urged students to emulate the Deputy Higher Education Minister’s past commitment to protest-driven advocacy.
The statement highlights ongoing dissatisfaction among students over higher education financing and student debt, as debates over PTPTN reform and free tertiary education continue.
Umno man Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi also took a swipe at Adam, challenging him to fulfil his long-standing call to abolish PTPTN now that he oversees the relevant portfolio.
Puad urged Adam to press forcefully for the scrapping of the student loan scheme during post-Cabinet meetings at the Ministry of Higher Education, arguing that only such action would give meaning to Adam’s earlier days as a student activist.
In a sarcastic social media post, Puad congratulated Adam on receiving what he described as the “most fitting” appointment and suggested that the opportunity now exists for him to deliver on past promises.
Puad added that this would finally justify the street protests and overnight camps Adam once took part in at Dataran Merdeka.
Yesterday, Adam was appointed Deputy Minister of Higher Education in a cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
He replaces Mustapha Sakmud, who has been reassigned to the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs.
Adam previously served as Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports. – December 16, 2025
