THE Education Ministry will clear up speculation about the reinstatement of a travel blacklist on National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan defaulters.

Minister Maszlee Malik said in the Parliament lobby today that he will check with PTPTN chairman Wan Saiful Wan Jan whether the proposal is on the table.

Maszlee was asked about the matter following recent news that the blacklist reinstatement was raised in a stakeholder consultation.

Days ago, Wan Saiful said bringing back the travel blacklist was not part of PTPTN’s plans, but had been raised by stakeholders who felt loan defaulters should not be rewarded.

He added that feedback from PTPTN stakeholders will be presented to the ministry.

Shortly after Pakatan Harapan formed the federal government last year, it removed more than 400,000 PTPTN load defaulters from the blacklist in keeping with its election promise.

It was reported that defaulters owe some RM36 billion in student loans. – March 20, 2019