QR Code Link : Type : Makalah Main Author : By Mohamad Al As, Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi Title : Govt to review PTPTN loan exemption for private university first-class graduates

Place of Production : Pekan Faculty : New Straits Times Year of Publication : November 3, 2025 HTTP Link : Click to view web link JPG Related Image : Click to view Image file

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KUALA LUMPUR: Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the ministry is conducting a full review of the assessment of honours conferred by private universities before considering a National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) first-class loan repayment exemption for their graduates. "The current policy applies to students from the B40 and M40 groups who achieve first-class honours.   "However, regarding private universities, this (exemption for private university students) has existed before and the Higher Education Ministry is conducting a full review. "This includes examining how to assess honours granted by private universities, as the evaluation systems vary," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today. This was in response to a question by Kota Melaka Member of Parliament Khoo Poay Tiong on whether the first-class exemption, which currently applies to public university graduates, would be expanded to include graduates of private institutions.   Zambry said this review does not mean honours assessments by private universities are disputed, but that they are merely different from those of public universities.   "(This review) does not mean that the government will not extend this policy to private universities in the future, but for now, it applies to the B40 and M40 groups," he said. Zambry said the exemption policy had evolved over the years, with adjustments made according to national needs and the government's financial position.   "The repayment exemption for PTPTN borrowers who graduate with first-class honours has, since 2001, changed from time to time depending on needs and the government's financial position at the time," he said. On Oct 10, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, under the 2026 Budget, said his government will grant PTPTN loan repayment exemptions to students who graduate with first-class honours bachelor's degrees from public universities and come from low- and middle-income families, benefiting around 6,000 borrowers with an annual allocation of RM90 million.

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