By Ling Hui
KUCHING, March 5: Sarawakian students will need to settle at least 30 per cent of their outstanding National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans before gaining eligibility to enjoy 30 per cent repayment of remaining amount by Sarawak government.
Yayasan Sarawak director Azmi Bujang said this is one of the requirements needed other than for the students to compulsorily finish their studies.
“The criteria is that the students must graduate. Those who fail or somewhere along that line, we will not assist them.
“And for those who have passed and graduated, we will help but they must reach a threshold of minimum 30 per cent repayment, meaning a loan of a certain amount, they must at least contribute to 30 per cent back to PTPTN.
“Only then the state government through Yayasan Sarawak will top up 30 per cent of the balance of the loan,” he said during the signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Yayasan Sarawak and PTPTN at Wisma Bapa Malaysia earlier today.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg was present to witness the exchange of MoU between Azmi and PTPTN chief executive Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid.
Besides the MoU inking, a RM30 million cheque was also handed over by Yayasan Sarawak to PTPTN for it to kickstart the project immediately.
With the budget, Azmi said over 9,000 Sarawakian students would benefit from this initiative by the state government at the moment, but the figure would continue to increase as more students complete the 30 per cent threshold criteria.
When this initiative was first announced in January, 2021, he added, Yayasan Sarawak has been receiving many positive feedback from the public in their emails and other online platforms.
“CM Sarawak memang terbaik, bertuah rakyat Sarawak” was one of the comments he read out loud, and there was another one in Bahasa Sarawak that said, “Sarawak is the best. I’m not a PTPTN loaner, but I’m happy for the other loaners.”
A few others along the way also depicted the people’s gratitude towards the state government’s initiative to help Sarawakian students in need especially during the Covid-19 crisis. — DayakDaily
