KUCHING, May 20: The proposal to bar National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) defaulters from renewing their passport, driving licence and road tax is a bad idea, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak vice-chairwoman Voon Shiak Ni.
The proposal came about from a round-table discussion among stakeholders with PTPTN Fund’s deputy chief executive Mastura Mohd Khalid.
Voon described the proposal as a “very drastic measure” that infringed the borders of basic human rights.
Nevertheless, she said it was good of the PTPTN board to make public the proposals discussed and let the public have knowledge of it before implementing any new proposals.
Voon agreed with stricter enforcement on loan defaulters who had not serviced their loans for a long period of time but supports more people-friendly measures, especially when most of the PTPTN borrowers are young people who may still be looking for better-paying jobs to enable them to service their loans.
“I totally disagree with the proposal to bar PTPTN defaulters from renewing their passports, driving licence and road tax as the documents are necessary and part and parcel of our needs for our working lives,” she said.
Voon added that the measure to remove the travel ban imposed on all 429,945 PTPTN loan defaulters as announced by PTPTN chairman Wan Saiful Wan Jan last year was much applauded by the people.
“Though we are also given to understand that fewer borrowers had made efforts to service their loans after the travel ban was lifted, personally I do not agree with any form of ban that restricts one’s freedom or mobility.
“Of course, PTPTN borrowers are duty bound to repay the money borrowed for their studies but I am all for the proposal for them to repay the loan when they are gainfully employed and have better pay,” she said. — DayakDaily
