THE National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) has seen a drop in collections since January, just after Pakatan Harapan announced its election manifesto where it promised to defer loan repayments for those earning below RM4,000 a month.

The Star reported PTPTN deputy chief executive Mastura Mohd Khalid as attributing the drop to the PH manifesto, as borrowers wanted to “wait and see” following the announcement.

New PTPTN chairman Wan Saiful Wan Jan was reported as saying that the monthly collection had dropped to below RM300 million since January, where before it had exceeded that figure.

Only RM200.45 million was collected in May, he said.

Wan Saiful said the fund was still studying how PH’s promise in its 100-day manifesto for those earning less than RM4,000 could be fulfilled.

He said they were working together with the Public Service Department, Inland Revenue Board, Employees Provident Fund, Retirement Fund Inc, and the Armed Forces Fund Board, and said a final announcement will be made by August 17, the 100-day mark of the manifesto. – June 27, 2018.