Latest news with #RM59.44
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Education loan exemption for first-class honours starts next month
PETALING JAYA (Aug 20, 2025): Applications for the National Higher Education Fund Corporation first-class honours loan exemption will reopen on Sept 1, but the government says there are no plans, for now, to revive the travel ban on loan defaulters. Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud told the Dewan Rakyat the loan exemption scheme, introduced in 2001, remains available for top graduates. 'The education fund website has been updated and applications will reopen on Sept 1. Eligible graduates, especially those with first-class honours, may reapply,' he said. Responding to Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng on the discontinued travel ban, Mustapha said the matter was still being studied but no decision had been made. 'We may revisit it, but at present there are no plans to impose a travel ban. Our priority is to help borrowers meet their obligations,' he added. Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman meanwhile, flagged repayment struggles among graduates earning below RM2,200, citing a 2020 proposal for deferred or phased payments based on income levels. Mustapha said the government was open to such restructuring. 'Setting income thresholds is a good idea. The education fund already allows repayment restructuring so borrowers can pay according to their means. Our aim is to ease their burden and be compassionate.' He added that the education fund operates on a revolving fund dependent on repayments and urged those in difficulty to seek help directly from the agency. As of July this year, the education fund has approved loan disbursements worth RM59.44 billion for 3.1 million B40 borrowers.
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Govt may review restriction on overseas travel of PTPTN defaulters
Bernama file photo for illustration purposes KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 19): The government may review the measure to restrict overseas travel for National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers who fail to make repayments. Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said this in response to a supplementary question from Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong) on whether the government would reinstate restrictions on hardcore defaulters who refuse to repay despite having the means to do so. 'We may review it, but for now, there is still no consideration to impose restrictions on borrowers,' he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. He said that as of July this year, PTPTN had approved loans for 3.1 million borrowers from the B40 group and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients, with total disbursements amounting to RM59.44 billion. He also announced that applications for repayment exemptions for first-class degree holders on the PTPTN website would open on Sept 1. 'I would also like to inform this honourable House that the first-class exemption scheme began in 2001, and to date, a total of 133,159 students have benefited, involving an estimated value of RM2.9 billion,' he said. – Bernama Defaulters Mustapha Sakmud PTPTN loan repayment travel ban
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Government may reconsider overseas travel ban for PTPTN loan defaulters
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is considering revisiting its policy of barring National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers from travelling abroad if they default on repayments. Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud revealed this potential review when responding to queries in Parliament about reinstating travel bans for persistent defaulters who can afford to pay but refuse. 'We may review it, but for now, there is still no consideration to impose restrictions on borrowers,' he said during today's Dewan Rakyat session. Mustapha shared that PTPTN had approved loans for 3.1 million borrowers from the B40 group and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah recipients as of July, with total disbursements reaching RM59.44 billion. He confirmed that applications for loan exemptions for first-class degree holders would open on the PTPTN website starting 1 September. 'I would also like to inform this honourable House that the first-class exemption scheme began in 2001, and to date, a total of 133,159 students have benefited, involving an estimated value of RM2.9 billion,' he said. – Bernama
