By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 23: Some 23,048 borrowers from Sarawak have yet to begin repaying their National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans as required, revealed Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir.
In a news report by TVS, Zambry also noted that 40,687 borrowers have made repayments, albeit inconsistently.
As of Aug 31, the outstanding balance from PTPTN borrowers amounts to RM644 million, according to the latest data.
“To alleviate the repayment burden and encourage Sarawakian borrowers to settle their loans, the Sarawak government has initiated a strategic partnership with PTPTN. Sarawak has generously agreed to cover 30 per cent of the loan amount for borrowers, provided they have repaid at least 30 per cent themselves,” he said in a written reply which was published on the Malaysian Parliament website.
He was responding to Igan MP Ahmad Johnie Zawawi who requested that the Minister provides detail of the total loans disbursed and the number of Sarawakian students who have benefitted from PTPTN, along with the number of defaulters and the measures taken to address non-repayment.
Zambry commended the Sarawak government for its proactive approach in supporting borrowers facing financial difficulties.
“In this regard, I urge other state governments to follow Sarawak’s lead in assisting borrowers from their regions,” he said.
Additionally, Zambry disclosed that 152,043 borrowers have repaid their loans, with a total sum of RM2.02 billion owed to PTPTN.
To date, 224,432 loans have been approved for Sarawakian students, with the total loan disbursement reaching RM4.17 billion. — DayakDaily
