PTPTN loan defaulters struggle with joblessness, low pay
KUCHING: Whether imposing a ban against National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan defaulters is reasonable or the other way around, this issue points to the lack of discipline among Malaysians.
Somehow, it shows that Malaysians are still way behind in achieving a first-class society as there were over 900,000 (51%) loan defaulters last year, says PTPTN.
Out of the 51%, 31% or 616,000 are inconsistent defaulters whereby half had not paid for more than one year, which contributed to the outstanding amount of RM3.5 billion.
And worse, 19% out of 51%, or 356,000, are those who have never paid, not even once, and this amounted to RM2.8 billion!
At the end of 2018, the outstanding amount had reached RM6.3 billion with 68% of defaulters having not paid for more than a year while only 58% had paid according to schedule.
The poor repayment performance since 2014 had contributed to the negative shortfall in cash flow whereby 50,000 new applicants were rejected.
Not to mention the amount of loans that had been reduced by 5% for IPTA and 15% for IPTS.
It becomes problematic as PTPTN needs to borrow more money in order to provide assistance to the future generation.
Statistics also found an upward trend in the number of students requiring PTPTN loans, which is expected to grow from 180,000 today to 250,000 by 2040, in accordance with the enrolment growth projected in the Higher Education Blueprint.
In a nutshell, poor repayment has caused PTPTN to now owe RM40 bln – larger than the 1MDB debt!
Based on the figures above, the escalating financial strain on PTPTN is already unsustainable. There is a high risk that the PTPTN student loan financing facility will eventually collapse if nothing changes.
Thus, should imposing a ban be regarded the most effective means of getting defaulters to service their loans?
Or should the loan defaulters be allowed to get away, to continue to be irresponsible and lacking discipline by thinking that education is a human right and therefore should be free – a brilliant way to escape from paying loans?
A check by New Sarawak Tribune found that many fresh graduates felt there was a need for PTPTN to rectify its mechanism for repayment, by considering those who did not have jobs yet, instead of harsh actions.
Nur Ashikin Louis, 25, expressed her dismay and disappointment with the new federal government.
“Before the 14th general election, the current government in their manifesto promised the postponement of PTPTN payments up to RM4,000 salary.
“This means the group under the salary of RM4,000 per month can choose to delay the repayments,” she said when interviewed yesterday.
She believed that the federal government should explain and give the most concrete reason instead of playing the blame game.
“I believe the country is in no rush to pay back their debts and that there is no one putting them in chains for delaying the repayment.
“For us former students who just started venturing into the job world, we have already been sucked dry and put in a difficult situation,” she said.
Questioning the proposal to impose ban on defaulters, Asyikin pondered if the federal government had really engaged with the defaulters, especially fresh graduates who just started working.
“With the current minimum wage and the rising standard of living, the government is not empathetic but instead, pushing us into a dead end as they introduce new punishments such as travel ban.
“Do they even consider the people who may be working as spokespersons for the company they are working in?” she lamented, emphasising one size did not fit all.
“For myself, I have beneficiaries to feed, bills to pay and house necessities to buy every month.
“With the rise in price of petrol, I have to spend around RM30 at minimum daily.
“This takes more than half of my salary. When can I get the opportunity to build a career and a stable financial life if the government is striking me when I am striving to earn living?” she voiced out, adding that Putrajaya should re-evaluate the action to impose a ban.
For Hakimi Harun, who is currently working as a security guard in Kelantan, he explained that apparently, students were still unable to pay their PTPTN loans because of the lack of suitable jobs that offered better wages.
“Students can go as far as being a cleaner or a janitor just to pay PTPTN.
“It isn’t logical for the PTPTN to go as far as to suggest a ban on renewing road tax or licence.
“It is alright for me if they want to implement travel ban for students who travel overseas for leisure.
“If the individuals have the money to travel for leisure, it is impossible for them to not afford paying back PTPTN,” he elaborated.
Pointing out that the minimum wage imposed by the government was too low, Hakim urged the federal government to take into account in implementing minimum low wages among fresh graduates.
“Some students cannot pay because their salary is not enough. In Kuala Lumpur, working as a security guard in the past gets a salary of RM2,100 but now it’s RM1,100 due to the government’s call.
“Even renting a home in Kuala Lumpur cost you around RM1,000. This is why many of my friends end up going back to work in their respective villages instead,” he said.
With the workload and extra working hours, he said the wages that he had received since had yet to enable him to do any savings.
“I only work to pay off my PTPTN debt. The wage I received is based on my employer’s tender that he gets from the government.
“In fact, soon I will have to work triple shifts just to complement the decreasing wage and many people were fired due to being unable to cope with the workload,” he said worriedly.
Meanwhile, Raziv Ramzon said the ban must take into account the financial situation of borrowers as many were still unemployed.
“It is not easy to get hired immediately by employers nowadays.”
Suggesting that PTPTN set acceptable and flexible rules, Raziv pointed out that the rules must consider all parties involved, including debtors, guarantor and PTPTN.
“It would be more acceptable if PTPTN set a rule that at least a minimum of RM50 to RM80 (is paid) for those who earn RM1,500 below rather than not contributing any amount,” he said.
The National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) is gathering public feedback and the public are urged to participate in the Konsultasi Rakyat online survey at www.ptptn.gov.my/kertas-konsultasi-rakyat/ until June 13.
