PTPTN borrowers laud initiatives to ease repayments

KUALA LUMPUR: National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers have welcomed four initiatives announced under the 2027 Budget to ease their repayment burden while safeguarding the sustainability of the country's education financing fund.

The initiatives include a repayment deferment for borrowers earning RM2,500 or less a month, a minimum monthly repayment of RM50 for those earning between RM2,501 and RM3,000, a 10 per cent discount for borrowers without arrears who make regular repayments and tax deductions for employers who repay their employees' PTPTN loans.

PTPTN said the measures reflected the government's commitment to borrowers' welfare, particularly those from lower-income groups, while ensuring education financing remained sustainable for future generations.

Muhammad Radzi Rohailani, 28, who graduated with a diploma in sports and recreation from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam in 2020, said the RM50 minimum monthly repayment was affordable and would encourage borrowers to remain committed to their loan repayments, even with limited income.

"In my opinion, the initiative is an excellent move to ensure PTPTN borrowers pay back their education debt," said Radzi, who works as a fibre processing associate at CelcomDigi.

He said borrowers should prioritise loan repayments and review their spending habits if they faced financial difficulties.

Meanwhile, Education Ministry administrative and diplomatic officer Nurul Hamimi Halim, 34, welcomed the repayment deferment for borrowers earning RM2,500 or less a month, saying it would provide temporary relief for fresh graduates facing rising living costs.

Hamimi, who graduated in computer network engineering from Universiti Malaysia Perlis in 2014, said the deferment would help borrowers manage their financial commitments.

If eligible, she said the initiative would provide her with greater financial flexibility to manage her commitments more effectively while continuing to fulfil her PTPTN loan repayment obligations.

Nor Hafidzah Kamis, an analyst at a financial institution who graduated from UiTM Shah Alam in 2014 with a qualification in English for Professional Communication, supported the proposed tax deduction for employers repaying their employees' PTPTN loans.

These measures aim to ease young borrowers' transition into working life while helping them manage their finances and education debts.