Budget 2027: PTPTN offers 10pc discount to borrowers with no arrears who make regular repayments

PTPTN chairman Datuk Seri Norliza Abdul Rahim said the incentive was a form of recognition for borrowers who demonstrated discipline in fulfilling their loan repayment obligations. — File picture by Firdaus Latif

First Published: Sunday, 11 Oct 2026 2:20 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers with no arrears who make regular repayments will enjoy a 10 per cent discount from 2027. 

PTPTN chairman Datuk Seri Norliza Abdul Rahim said the incentive was a form of recognition for borrowers who demonstrated discipline in fulfilling their loan repayment obligations. 

“The initiative, which will be implemented in 2027, aims to encourage consistent repayments and reduce the risk of loan arrears,” she said in a statement today. 

She said the government has announced an initiative to defer PTPTN loan repayments in 2027, which would benefit more than 400,000 borrowers, as well as a minimum monthly repayment of RM50 for low-income borrowers. 

Norliza said implementation of the initiative would be subject to income verification through cross-checks with the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia. 

“This reflects the government’s concern in ensuring that repayment commitments can be aligned with borrowers’ financial capacity,” she said. 

She said another initiative involved granting tax deductions to employers who repaid PTPTN loans on behalf of their employees, covering payments made from January 2027 to December 2028. 

She said the initiative would encourage employers to help ease their employees’ debt burden while safeguarding their welfare. 

“As an agency under the Ministry of Higher Education, PTPTN remains committed to realising the government’s goals and aspirations under Budget 2027 by expanding access to more inclusive education, improving borrowers’ well-being and ensuring the sustainability of education financing funds,” she said. 

She said this is to ensure that more young people have the opportunity to build their future through higher education. 

On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2027, announced that the government agreed to defer PTPTN loan repayments for borrowers earning less than RM2,500 a month. 

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said borrowers earning between RM2,500 and RM3,000 a month would only be required to make minimum repayments of RM50. — Bernama