Pay up or face action, PTPTN tells borrowers

PETALING JAYA: Borrowers who consistently pay their loans need not worry, said the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).

Those who do not settle their loans as agreed will have a bad record in the Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS), said its chairman Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

“PTPTN understands that some borrowers face difficulty in meeting the monthly commitment.

“We urge them to come forward and discuss how their loans can be restructured,” he said.

He urged borrowers to approach PTPTN counters nationwide or contact their careline to negotiate new terms.

All actions taken by PTPTN to encourage borrowers to settle their loans is in accordance with the agreement that was signed by them, he said, adding that it was the standard practice among the financial institutions in Malaysia.

Shamsul Anuar said these measures were in place to ensure there are enough funds for the corporation to continue providing loans and are not there to “pressure any parties”.

On Saturday, The Star reported that about 1.3 million PTPTN borrowers were listed under the CCRIS because they had failed to service their study loans on time.

Its deputy chief executive officer (policy and operations) Mastura Mohd Khalid (pic) said once listed in CCRIS, the borrowers could be deemed a “bad paymaster” and this could lead to financial institutions denying them loans or other credit facilities.

Meanwhile at an earlier event, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said he had received at least 20 e-mails and SMSes regarding the PTPTN loans.

On Sunday, Idris had urged anyone who had been “victimised” to come forward, adding that he would personally help them.

“I have forwarded the e-mails and SMSes to PTPTN and instructed them to study each case individually,” he told reporters after launching a national conference on lifelong learning in Universiti Malaya (UM) yesterday.

He said although he had not looked thoroughly at the e-mails and SMSes, some cases involved borrowers who felt they had been victimised.

“Action shouldn’t be taken against borrowers who have repaid their loans,” he said.