Higher education minister: 1.16 million PTPTN borrowers have RM10.7b in outstanding repayments

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said 1.16 million PTPTN borrowers had RM10.7 billion in outstanding repayments as of August 31, 2026. — Bernama pic

By Muhammad Yusry

First Published: Tuesday, 06 Oct 2026 10:00 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Some 1.16 million National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers had RM10.7 billion in outstanding loan repayments as of August 31, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said the figure represented the latest total of outstanding repayments owed to PTPTN.

“The total outstanding loan repayments of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) as of August 31, 2026 was RM10.7 billion involving 1.16 million borrowers,” he said in a written parliamentary reply.

Zambry said various initiatives had been and would continue to be undertaken to ensure the long-term sustainability of PTPTN’s funding model.

These included strengthening loan management by improving loan terms and conditions to ensure funding was more targeted towards those in need, based on PTPTN’s capacity.

He said the government would also improve the effectiveness and efficiency of repayment collection through enforcement measures and strategic cooperation with government agencies and corporations.

However, Zambry said the government remained mindful of borrowers who were genuinely facing difficulties in making repayments.

He said PTPTN remained open to such borrowers coming forward for discussions on restructuring their repayments according to their ability, or deferring repayments subject to the flexibility allowed by the corporation.

In March last year, Zambry told the Dewan Negara that outstanding PTPTN repayments stood at RM11.06 billion involving 1.2 million borrowers as of December 31, 2024.

He said at the time that the amount had been declining following repayment enforcement measures reintroduced in October 2024.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu), who asked the higher education minister for the latest amount in outstanding PTPTN repayments and the measures being taken to increase loan repayments.