KANGAR: The draft of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) repayment method will be tabled to the Cabinet in two weeks’ time, says its chairman Wan Saiful Wan Jan.
Even though the total arrears was very high, he said PTPTN had the responsibility to assist borrowers to pay off their loans.
“I cannot disclose the content of the draft,” he told reporters after visiting a storm-hit school yesterday.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad last Thursday lambasted errant borrowers for not settling their PTPTN loans which amounted to RM36bil.
According to Dr Mahathir, the loan defaulters included those with jobs.
Many PTPTN loan borrowers had come out in support of the prime minister’s statement saying that his comments on those defaulters were spot on.
Describing the loan defaulters’ attitude as “negative”, they said any refusal to repay PTPTN loans would affect future borrowers.
Some suggested that the government reimplement the travel ban.
The Star’s article on Dr Mahathir calling out to PTPTN loan defaulters had also attracted many comments on Facebook, with many giving suggestions to curb the issue.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has called on all quarters, including the opposition, to cease linking PTPTN with the Pakatan Harapan manifesto for the 14th General Election.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said borrowers were obliged to settle their repayments.
“Whatever the manifesto says, the borrowers have to pay the loan.
“The opposition, they just want to politicise the issue. This concerns one’s behaviour and morals; when you borrow money, you have to repay, even at RM10 a month,” he told reporters after visiting SK Siputeh in Kodiang, Kedah, yesterday.
Pakatan, in its general election manifesto, among others, stated that it would defer repayment of PTPTN loans for borrowers earning RM4,000 a month and below. — Bernama
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