IMMIGRATION CLEARS 265,149 PTPTN DEFAULTERS OFF BLACKLIST
168,289 others will be cleared by June 15, says minister
THE Immigration Department has removed 265,149 National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) defaulters from its travel blacklist.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this after a visit to the department yesterday, adding that the remaining 168,289 names were expected to be cleared by June 15.
“(Officials at) the country’s entry points have been informed of this. Based on (Immigration Department) records, 433,709 PTPTN defaulters have been blacklisted from (the year) 2000 to May 23.”
Present were Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim and Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.
Last week, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said his ministry was working towards lifting the travel ban on PTPTN defaulters in stages from May 24 to June 15, adding that the corporation had previously blacklisted about one million defaulters.
He said about 655,000 defaulters had settled their loans totaling RM1.9 billion.
Muhyiddin said the Immigration Department would also lift the travel ban on those who had been blacklisted by the Inland Revenue Board from June 1.
“The Immigration Department’s system shows that there are 636,202 names blacklisted by other agencies.”
On whether the ministry would conduct an investigation into Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali after he accepted the government’s decision to terminate his services as attorney-general, Muhyiddin said an investigation would start if a report was lodged against Apandi.
It was reported that Yang diPertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V consented to Apandi’s termination as A-G by the Federal Government.
Istana Negara Comptroller Datuk Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said the king had given his consent to the appointment of Tommy Thomas as the new A-G in accordance with Article 145 (1) of the Federal Constitution.
On the update of the manhunt for Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos, Muhyiddin said police had sought help from Indonesian authorities.
“If they (Indonesian authorities) find him (Jamal), please send him home.”
He said he had instructed the inspector-general of police to look into how Jamal fled the country.
“If there is an element of negligence, we have to address it.”
It was reported that a RM10,000 bounty was placed on Jamal’s head by an individual who approached Kepong parliamentarian Lim Lip Eng. Lim posted this on Twitter.
Jamal’s failure to cooperate with police investigations after disappearing from Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital on May 25 led to an arrest warrant being issued against him. Rumour has it that he escaped to Indonesia.