PTPTN plays a vital role by offering financial assistance and flexible repayment solutions, ensuring access to higher education for Malaysians from all walks of life. — 123RF.com
PTPTN supports borrowers with flexible loan restructuring, easing financial burdens and fostering educational aspirations nationwide
FOR nation-building, higher education is crucial as it provides skilled professionals, fosters innovation and drives economic growth.
The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) plays a vital role by offering financial assistance and flexible repayment solutions, ensuring access to higher education for Malaysians from all walks of life.
Recognising the critical importance of tertiary education, PTPTN consistently introduces various customer-friendly initiatives to help borrowers settle their loans.
By providing flexible repayment options and targeted campaigns, PTPTN ensures that financial challenges do not impede access to education, thereby supporting the ongoing educational and economic development of Malaysia.
In light of the economic uncertainty affecting many Malaysians, PTPTN has launched the inaugural “Restructure Your Loan Campaign for as Low as RM300”, specifically for PTPTN borrowers.
Settle debts with ease
This special initiative aims to encourage and support borrowers with PTPTN loan arrears to settle their debts with an initial payment as low as RM300. The campaign runs for two months, starting from June 1 until July 31. The campaign is open to all PTPTN borrowers with arrears during the campaign period, whether conventional loans or ujrah (service charge).
Borrowers with arrears need to make a minimum payment of RM300 for loan restructuring and are required to set up salary deductions or direct debits as a repayment method.
Norliza highlighted that the campaign offers multiple benefits to borrowers, such as reducing and achieving zero arrears, as well as improving their credit records.
This ensures borrowers can consistently and systematically repay their loans. Besides restructuring, borrowers can also negotiate other repayment options such as ujrah conversion, loan consolidation and rescheduling during this campaign.
PTPTN chairman Datuk Norliza Abdul Rahim highlighted that the campaign offers multiple benefits to borrowers, such as reducing and achieving zero arrears, as well as improving their credit records.
She stated, “We hope that PTPTN borrowers will seize the opportunity provided through this inaugural campaign to secure a brighter future free from arrears.”
Borrowers’ testimonials
Nurse Mohammad Zulfakrul Daliah, 32, expressed that the new campaign is timely and beneficial for those in the lower-income group and those facing financial difficulties in settling their loans.
“With this promotional campaign, I can settle my arrears more easily and not worry about it as a monthly task,” he said in a phone interview.
'With this promotional campaign, I can settle my arrears more easily and not worry about it as a monthly task,' said Mohammad Zulfakrul, who is with his wife, Noor Azizah and son, Aryan Kafiey.
Mohammad Zulfakrul took a PTPTN loan of RM60,000 when he studied for his diploma in nursing at the Institute of Science and Technology Darul Takzim (INSTEDT) in Johor in 2010. The loan supported his education and covered his monthly expenses throughout his three-year study.
After graduating in 2013, he was unemployed for a year before securing a job as a nurse at a private haemodialysis centre in Kulai, Johor.
“I was only earning RM1,300 each month and had commitments to support my family, which made it difficult to pay the loan regularly. Most of the time, I could only pay twice a year, with amounts ranging from RM150 to RM300,” he shared. He discovered the campaign while browsing Facebook last month and visited the PTPTN branch office at Bandar Baru UDA in Johor Baru for more information.
“I have arrears amounting to RM30,000, so I opted for monthly deductions starting July 1, with auto-debit from my CIMB bank account. They informed me that RM298 would be deducted each month.”
“This campaign brings me relief as I can clear my arrears faster and have a clean record on Bank Negara’s CCRIS credit information system,” said the father of a seven-year-old, who is married to religious affairs assistant Noor Azizah Mohamad Noor.
Accounts executive Nur Alleysa Md Isa, 29, from Shah Alam, finds the campaign helpful, as it allows borrowers to repay their arrears according to their financial capacity.
Nur Alleysa finds the campaign helpful, as it allows borrowers to repay their arrears according to their financial capacity.
“Once they have paid the RM300 for their arrears, they can restructure the loan payment, enabling them to plan their monthly commitments based on their affordability and settle it within the stipulated time, giving them peace of mind,” she said.
Nur Alleysa studied for a degree in Mathematics at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Kelantan starting in 2014. She took out a RM28,000 loan to cover her studies and daily expenses.
“I received RM3,500 per semester. After deductions, I used the remaining RM2,800 to buy books and cover my daily expenses,” she explained.
Upon her graduation in 2018, she began working as an accounts executive in Klang, earning a salary of RM2,800. “In 2019, I started paying RM250 per month to PTPTN using JomPAY,” she shared.
She discovered the campaign in June via TikTok.
“A financial advisor spoke about the campaign on TikTok,” she revealed. “I decided to restructure my loan because the payment method is easier. I want to settle the loan quickly using this method, so I opted for auto-debit from my Bank Islam account,” she elaborated.
Nur Alleysa mentioned that she started paying RM300 from July.
“I have paid about RM10,000 towards my loan so far. I am just happy with this new initiative and the smooth process to settle the loan,” she added.
Innovative financial management
“The myPTPTN App is a convenient application that helps borrowers manage their student loans more efficiently.
“Users can access their loan statements, check their outstanding balances and make payments directly through the app. It is very transparent,” said Mohammad Zulfakrul.
“The app is user-friendly, fast and safer. It saves time and costs. With the app, users will be able to perform PTPTN services anytime, anywhere,” said Nur Alleysa.
The app offers features such as loan restructuring options and promotional campaigns to assist borrowers in settling their debts more easily.
With the myPTPTN App, users can set up auto-debit payments, ensuring they never miss a due date and maintaining a good credit record.
The app, which aims to further accelerate the national digitalisation plan, also provides notifications and updates on the latest PTPTN news and services, keeping borrowers informed and engaged.
Users have the option to download the app via Google Play Store, App Store and also Huawei AppGallery, where they can register and verify their account with their own identity card, email verification and telephone number during registration.
Proactive measures for borrowers
Norliza advised borrowers, stating, “The commitment of borrowers who make repayments is highly appreciated to ensure the sustainability of educational loan funds for future generations, ensuring that no student is unable to enter institutions of higher learning due to financial issues.
“With various efforts and friendly approaches implemented by PTPTN, we hope borrowers take this opportunity to repay their loans during the campaign period.”
Mohammad Zulfakrul encouraged borrowers to support the campaign and not wait until the last minute to take advantage of it.
“The loan repayments can support the younger generation in pursuing their further studies,” he said.
Nur Alleysa added, “I advise those who have arrears to seize this opportunity to settle your debts.
“This move can clear your name from CCRIS records, enabling you to apply for loans to buy a house, car and other essentials in the future.
“Loan restructuring offers borrowers the flexibility to adjust repayment terms to better suit their financial circumstances, potentially reducing monthly payments and simplifying debt management.
“It can also provide opportunities to negotiate better terms, leading to long-term savings and improved financial stability. We must support this campaign to ensure the continuity of educational loans for the benefit of all Malaysians.
For more information, contact the PTPTN Careline at 03-2193 3000 or use the live chat on the PTPTN portal (www.ptptn.gov.my), or access its e-Complaint platform (https://eaduan.ptptn.gov.my/), or connect through their official social media channels.
