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Koleksi Khas Digital
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| KUALA LUMPUR: The government is not ruling out the possibility of National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) repayment exemptions for B40 and M40 students at private higher education institutions (IPTS).
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud told the Dewan Rakyat that this could include repayment exemptions for first-class degree students, as well as students who serve in designated areas, rather than basing exemptions solely on academic achievement.
He, however, said that such a proposal would ultimately depend on PTPTN's capacity within its financing model.
"Previously, the model did include IPTS students. However, the current model only covers public universities and is targeted at the B40 and M40 income groups.
"This targeted approach is intended to ensure that assistance is provided only to those who need it.
"Nonetheless, I acknowledge the validity of the point raised regarding IPTS students. The mechanism may need further refinement, as they were previously included but are now excluded.
"I believe this will be considered by the Finance Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry in the future," he said during the question-and-answer session in the Lower House today.
He said this in response to a supplementary question from Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng), who enquired whether the government will implement PTPTN repayment exemptions not just for first-class degree graduates, but also for students willing to serve in rural areas or critical sectors, known as the Service-Based Waiver.
Commenting further, Mustapha said that as of Oct 31, a total of 911,788 PTPTN borrowers from households receiving the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) aid had successfully repaid loans amounting to RM13.89 billion.
He added that 450,522 borrowers from the same category had also made consistent repayments totalling RM4.17 billion.
"Meanwhile, STR recipient households with outstanding PTPTN loan repayments total 967,796 borrowers, involving RM10.23 billion," he said.
Mustapha also said that 8,921 borrowers from non-STR households earning no more than RM8,000 per month had successfully repaid loans totalling RM703.45 million.
He said that 136,196 borrowers from households earning more than RM8,000 per month had repaid RM1.54 billion in loans.
"Among other borrowers who are repaying on schedule, 131,386 from non-STR households earning up to RM8,000 have repaid RM657.79 million, while 39,324 from households earning over RM8,000 have repaid RM362.36 million," he said.
He added that among borrowers with outstanding repayments, 196,315 from non-STR households earning no more than RM8,000 per month have arrears totalling RM539.35 million.
"Meanwhile, 64,618 borrowers from households earning more than RM8,000 per month have arrears amounting to RM257.56 million." |
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