THE PTPTN regulation that denied students who have repaid their loans early the opportunity to enjoy the 30 percent subsidy for Sarawak graduates’ higher education fund loans provided by the Sarawak government was nonsensical.
Bukit Assek assemblyman Chieng Jin Ek said that the regulation was unreasonable because it contradicted with the state government’s intention to reduce the financial burdens of students and their parents.
“The agency explained that although the student repaid a significant portion of the debt within the 12-month grace period, that amount is not included as part of the 30 percent required for the discount.
“Additionally, the sum paid by the student after the grace period was deemed inadequate to meet the criteria for the discount,” he lamented during his speech at the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Chieng emphasised that while the regulation aims to give students a year to prepare for repayment, its implication to Sarawak students was unreasonable as it conflicted with the Sarawak government’s higher education fund loan subsidy programme.
“I appeal to the Premier of Sarawak and Yayasan Sarawak to contemplate abolishing the unjust rules imposed by PTPTN when students apply for the Sarawak graduate’s higher education fund loan subsidy programme” he urged.
