Contacted by FMT, Wan Saiful said he had been planning his departure from the Ministry of Education (MOE) so that he could give more attention to his role as chairman of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).
“Workload at PTPTN is increasing and I want to spend more time to reduce our debt level left by the Barisan Nasional government,” said Wan Saiful.
Describing Maszlee as a “good friend and an ambitious minister”, he said he was always ready to assist the education minister.
“But holding PTPTN chairmanship means I can’t afford to do a 9-to-5 job at MOE,” said Wan Saiful, who formerly headed the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS).
Wan Saiful, who is Perlis PPBM chief, was tasked with revamping PTPTN, the government’s higher studies loans provider, in the wake of Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the May 9 polls.
He joined PPBM early this year but lost in Pendang, Kedah.