Maszlee: Don’t politicise PTPTN issue
KUBANG PASU: The Education Ministry yesterday called on all quarters, including the Opposition, to stop linking the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto for the 14th general election.
Its minister Maszlee Malik said all borrowers are obliged to settle their repayments, regardless of the type of loan taken.
“Whatever the manifesto says, the borrowers have to repay their loans. The Opposition just wants to politicise the issue. This concerns one’s behaviour and morals. When you borrow money, you have to pay, even RM10 a month,” he said after a visit to SK Siputeh yesterday.
Last week, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad criticised the irresponsible attitude of PTPTN borrowers, that resulted in unpaid loans totalling RM36 billion.
According to Mahathir, the loan defaulters included those who already had secured jobs.
In its election manifesto, PH had stated that it would defer repayment of PTPTN loans for borrowers earning RM4,000 a month and below.
On the progress of repair works to improve the condition of dilapidated schools nationwide, especially in rural areas, Maszlee said work on 10% of the affected schools would be ready by end of the year.
Meanwhile, PTPTN chairman Wan Saiful Wan Jan said a draft on its loan repayment scheme will be tabled in the Cabinet in two weeks' time.
He said PTPTN has a responsibility to assist borrowers to repay their loans. – Bernama