State govt to come up with help mechanism in six months
KUALA LUMPUR: Taking is easy, but repaying can be a nightmare — that’s the storyline with most borrowers of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans.
In fact, many student borrowers not only struggle but some have ended up being declared bankrupt because they just did not have the means to pay back.
For some, the PTPTN loan has indeed turned out to be a Hotel California kind of contract — going in is easy but getting out is near impossible.
The state government is aware of the double-edged sword that the PTPTN loan has turned out to be for many borrowers, including Sarawakians, it is not standing idle.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is taking the bull by the horns, so to speak.
Six months from now Sarawakians who are struggling to repay their will not have to struggle anymore.
This is because in six months’ time the state government will have come up with the right mechanism which will make repaying these study loans less burdensome and relatively painless.
“Give me six months to find the right mechanism to help you solve this problem (of re-paying the PTPTN loans),” he said, to applause from Sarawakians who packed the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The chief minister was speaking during a townhall session — #TanyaAbangJo, held in conjunction with the ‘Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2019’.
The chief minister said among the options that the state can look into is a special fund to help Sarawakian borrowers repay their PTPTN loans.
He also spoke of the state’s plan to provide scholarships and study loans to Sarawakian students in hopes of weaning them off Putrajaya.
He said the state would not want to see Sarawakians seeking college and university education depending heavily on Putrajaya as is the current case.
“I am confident we can find the right formula (of getting Sarawakian students independent of loans like PTPTN),” he said.
On another note, Abang Johari called on the federal government to find the right formula for the amount of special grants given to Sabah and Sarawak.
He said the current mechanism with which to arrive at the amount of the special grant should be reviewed.
“There are things…factors that need to be taken into consideration (which the current mechanism fails to address),” he said.
Abang Johari insisted that the amount for the special grant to Sabah and Sarawak should be reviewed by the federal government under Section 112D of the Federal Constitution.
“Since 1969, the amount was never been reviewed,” he added.
Also present during the townhall session yesterday were his deputy Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing and members of his Cabinet.
The townhall session was moderated by Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
