S’wak govt to help pay 30% of students’ PTPTN loans
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has expressed his hope that the collaboration between the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) and Yayasan Sarawak can assist Sarawakian students to repay the arrears of their PTPTN loans.
He asserted that the collaboration would also produce something that could ease the burden of students from debts in their pursuit of better education.
“The cooperation between the two parties is regarding the issue of loan repayment of Sarawakian students who have been successful in their studies but are facing problems in repaying their loans.
“I have been looking for ideas on how to help alleviate their burden in terms of loan repayment and I have decided to appoint Yayasan Sarawak to work with PTPTN on this matter,” he added.
He said this at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchange ceremony between Yayasan Sarawak, represented by its director Azmi Bujang and PTPTN, represented by its chief executive Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
Abang Johari said the state government through Yayasan Sarawak has allocated RM30 million as a start to assist the students in repaying the students’ loans.
He added that the initiative is only eligible for students who have paid at least 30 per cent of their PTPTN loan, and that Yayasan Sarawak will assist in the payment of an additional 30 per cent of their loan balance.
“However, for those who have obtained a first class Bachelor’s Degree, their loans will be turned to scholarships.
“This assistance from the state government to Sarawakian students will be based on the Yayasan Sarawak’s processes as they have experience and that they also provide loans to our students,” he added.
A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said this was done as promised during a town hall session held in Kuala Lumpur in 2019, where he had kept his promise to assist students from Sarawak to pay some part of their loans with PTPTN.
At the event, Yayasan Sarawak represented by Azmi handed over the RM30 million cheque to PTPTN represented by Ahmad Dasuki.
Ahmad Dasuki, who praised the state government’s effort, said the initiative was a proactive effort as Sarawak has the only state government that has acted in such a way by allocating a large sum for the effort.