Help for PTPTN loan defaulters
PETALING JAYA: A foundation has recently announced efforts to assist more than 100,000 National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan defaulters to earn extra money to help them repay their loans.
According to the president of Yayasan Ehwal Siswazah (YES), Khairul Ridzwan Ibrahim ( pix), the foundation will assist those concerned through freelance work opportunities.
“Income will be generated by undertaking freelance online assignments. As it is now, the global freelance job market is worth around RM1 trillion per annum and there are more than 50,000,000 Americans who are already actively earning income via freelance job assignments.
“YES is confident that more than 100,000 graduates who have difficulties repaying their PTPTN loans can benefit from this initiative. This is based on encouraging reports that several graduates who registered as freelancers to undertake online assignments are already earning more than RM100,000 per year.”
Khairul said details of the initiative will be announced once YES has concluded negotiations with local telcos on their involvement by offering access to high-speed broadband services to the affected graduates.
YES has also received confirmation from Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation on its role to provide technical support and advice to graduates registered in the project.
He said YES was also sourcing for more investors to help train an initial batch of 100,000 graduates.
“These social impact investors can expect a return of about double the amount invested for training freelancers within a year.”
Khairul expressed hope the initiative would put an end to the issue of asking the government to postpone repayment of PTPTN loans.
“Postponing repayments does not solve the problem of unpaid loans as it only serves to delay or defer the matter.
“Eventually, graduates need to repay their loans and this initiative would serve as a way out of this unproductive blame game,” he added.
Graduates keen on participating in the programme may email ngotower@gmail. com.