By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 9: Yayasan Sarawak is being urged to omit the ‘unreasonable’ terms and conditions set by National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) so as to ensure that students who opt for early repayment of their loans are not deprived of the opportunity to benefit from the 30 per cent subsidy provided by the Sarawak government.
Highlighting this concern, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng emphasised that he had received complaints from Sarawakian students who, despite initiating repayments immediately after graduation, were ineligible for the 30 per cent subsidy on their loan balance provided by the Sarawak government.
“I visited the PTPTN Sibu branch. The answer given by the agency was that the students who repaid most of the debt within the 12-month grace period, (doing so) disqualified them for the 30 per cent discount.
“Should repaying the PTPTN loan ahead of schedule be penalised? I believe such conditions imposed by PTPTN is unreasonable, as it denies students the benefit of the Sarawak government’s subsidy.
“It also contradicts with the government’s intention to alleviate financial burdens of students and their parents,” he said when debating the Sarawak Governor’s address in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) today.
While acknowledging the usefulness of the repayment grace period provided by PTPTN, Chieng highlighted the absence of public disclosure regarding this regulation, leading to undue repercussions for Sarawak students who choose to repay their study loans ahead of schedule.
In light of these issues, Chieng appealed to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Yayasan Sarawak to abolish such unreasonable terms set by PTPTN, particularly concerning the Sarawak graduates’ higher education fund loan subsidy programme. — DayakDaily
