While many student leaders, as well as opposition politicians, have been calling for tertiary education to be made free, an academician has questioned whether the Malaysian community can appreciate something that is free.

Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) lecturer Zaharuddin Abd Rahman’s hypothetical question was in response to a Universiti Selangor (Unisel) student who had called for education in her university to be made free of all fees.

While Zaharuddin said that he is not against free tertiary education, the UIAM assistant professor, speaking as one of the panellists in a forum at the National Students’ Congress in Ampang today, said an ideal idea might not be good at a time when society is not ready for it.