PETALING JAYA: The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) has been urged to allow borrowers, who are pursuing degree programmes immediately after completing their diploma, to be allowed to delay their loan repayment until they manage to secure a job.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said that there have been too many instances where PTPTN loan holders pursuing their degree after completing their diploma, were blacklisted under the Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) for failing to repay their study loans on time.
Syed Saddiq said that this problem however only involved graduates with study loan agreement dated before 2014.
“Based on the existing repayment formula introduced by PTPTN, only diploma graduates whose loan agreement dated after 2014 were allowed to delay the payment, should they wish to continue to pursue degree level.
“This is not fair. There is no way they can afford to start paying for the loan when they studying full time.
“Not to mention the higher cost of living today,” he said.
Syed Saddiq was speaking to reporters at a press conference at PPBM headquarters here today. Also present was PPBM Youth scholar and education exco Abdul Hannaan Khairy.
Abdul Hannaan said that in many cases, PTPTN have issued an approval letter which stated that the borrowers (whose loan agreement dated before 2014) were allowed to delay their payment; however it was merely on paper.
“The PTPTN borrowers were told that the approval letter was issued so that they won’t be blacklisted under the CCRIS until they finally graduated.
“However, despite receiving the approval letter, they are still required to start paying their loan,” he said.