THE National Higher Education Fund Corporation’s  (PTPTN) plan to reintroduce a travel ban to force defaulters to pay their student loans is being misunderstood, said Education Minister Maszlee Malik.

The travel ban, first introduced when Barisan Nasional was in federal power, was lifted shortly after Pakatan Harapan took over Putrajaya last year.

“I think what PTPTN was referring to was the public consultation exercise the corporation is now conducting. It is not their proposal. It is asking for feedback (on proposals raised by others).

“I think PTPTN needs to (release an) explanation to the media to prevent misunderstanding,” he said during a visit to SJK(T) Sg Ara in Penang this morning.

PTPTN launched its public consultation initiative at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The exercise aims to gather feedback on ideas for a new affordable study loan repayment scheme and for measures to improve the corporation’s loan sustainability. It will continue until June 13.

During the launch, PTPTN chairman Wan Saiful Wan Jan had reportedly said the corporation would raise a proposal to reinstate the travel ban, which was one of the most effective ways to get money back from defaulters.

It was reported PTPTN collect RM2 billion from some 684,000 defaulters due to the ban.

However, Wan Saiful said the final decision rested with the cabinet.

PTPTN deputy chief executive officer (policy and operations) Mastura Mohd Khalid had also reportedly said the corporation was considering other measures, such as barring defaulters from renewing their passports, driving licences and road tax.

The measures are based on feedback from PTPTN’s earlier discussions with stakeholders. Other measures reportedly include mandatory salary deductions and turning down applications by defaulters’ next of kin.

Reports of the plan to bring back the travel ban has since drawn flak.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said PTPTN should not push defaulters too hard, especially those who are unemployed.

Following his tour of the primary school, Maszlee said he was impressed by the school’s open teaching and learning approach, which does not hand out much homework.

The small school adopts the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, organises green activities and has its own mini farm that generates RM600 a month.

Maszlee also said the school has made “interesting achievements” and can be a model school to teach others how to emphasise values such as happiness, love and mutual respect.

“We can see how happy the kids and teachers are at the school. The kids enjoy their school time so much, they would rather not go home.”

He added the Tamil school coexisted harmoniously with its neighbour, an Islamic school.

“They always have activities together. They should be given acknowledgement for their good practice in support of the nation’s aspiration for harmony.

“I urge more schools from different streams to have programmes together to promote harmony. The ministry will give its support and encouragement.”

He also announced a RM20,000 allocation for the Tamil school’s maintenance and RM4,000 worth of books from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and the Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books for the school’s resource centre.

On claims that the school will be affected by the Pan Island Link (PIL) alignment, Maszlee said the ministry will discuss the matter with the state Education Department and state government.

The PIL is part of the Penang Transport Master Plan. – May 17, 2019.