IT is irresponsible for Pakatan Harapan (PH) to postpone repayments for the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) for those earning below RM4,000, said PTPTN’s chairman today.

Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the opposition’s manifesto on PTPTN is a political gimmick to pull votes for the next general election.

“It is not realistic. PTPTN has studied that suggestion and it is hard to be carried out,” he said at a press conference celebarting the 20th year anniversary of PTPTN.

PH pledged it would fulfil 10 promises within 100 days if it wins the 14th general election. One of which was to postpone repayments of PTPTN for borrowers earning below RM4,000 and also to remove the blacklisting policy.

PTPTN loan defaulters would be blacklisted under the Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) by Bank Negara Malaysia and also blacklisted from leaving the country by the immigration department.

“It will increase the debts for those that do not pay. It will also cause PTPTN to depend on financial institutions to pay new students who apply (for loans),” Shamsul said.

He also said PTPTN borrowers can defer payment for up to 36 months.

“After a student has graduated, they can start repaying their loans only in the 13th month.

“If there is a need, we can extend it by 24 months,” he said.

He added PTPTN’s system of collecting loans which have increased this year, shows the education fund is efficient.

In 2015, PTPTN collected RM1.45 billion. That number increased to RM3.43 billion in 2016 to RM3.98 billion in 2017.

Today’s 20th anniversary of PTPTN also marked the launch of a new program called JobMatchingPTPTN that provides a portal for PTPTN borrowers to obtain their first jobs.

The portal will match applicants based on their academic qualifications, experience and job interests to jobs offered by PTPTN.

The programme also utilised RM20 million of the 2018 budget allocation for training courses under RM2,000 for the first 10,000 applicants. Training is free.

Since its creation, PTPTN has helped more than 2.8 million students (until January 31, 2018) to study with more than RM52 billion in loans. 

PTPTN reported there are more than 300,000 loan defaulters.

PTPTN also announced today it will increase loans for medical degrees, diplomas in Pengajian Nautika Akademi Laut Malaysia, diplomas in aviation training in Meritus colleges and professional courses from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. – March 8, 2018.