Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahman, one of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s deputy vice-chancellors, told FMT he was concerned that Putrajaya was being too optimistic and might find it difficult to implement the plan in the face of economic challenges.

He was commenting on Education Minister Maszlee Malik’s announcement that the government was working out a mechanism to fulfil Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) election promise to give free education to all citizens enrolled in public universities.

Maszlee said the plan would become a reality by the end of the government’s current mandate.

Fadzil cautioned PH against being too eager to show that it is championing the people.

“On paper, the idea could be seen as implementable,” he said. “But the government has to take into consideration global as well as local economic uncertainties.

“We should identify specific target groups such as the B40.”

He also said he considered free education as a form of subsidy and added that subsidies should be given only to those who require them because of their economic circumstances.

However, Sarawak PKR Youth chief Sam Saifunizam said he believed the government could afford to start giving free education within the next two to three years.

He claimed the government was managing the country’s finances well and said he was confident it could restore fiscal health before the end of its current mandate.

“The dream of having free tertiary education will materialise once we are in the right position to execute the policy,” he added.