A total of RM77.5 billion in loans has been disbursed by the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), benefiting more than 4.26 million students nationwide, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said various measures remain in place to ease repayment burdens, including maintaining a 12-month deferment period after graduation to allow borrowers time to secure stable employment.
Those facing financial difficulty may also restructure repayments according to their means, with repayment periods extending up to the age of 60.
Addressing concerns about travel restrictions, he clarified that the measure is applied only in limited cases.
“Only borrowers with high or sufficient income who are truly in default and meet certain specific criteria will be subject to travel restrictions,” he said during the oral question session.
Adam Adli stressed that the action does not target fresh graduates, those without income, or borrowers in the B40 and M40 groups.
At present, about 0.7% of all defaulters are listed for overseas travel restrictions.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran) on steps taken by the ministry to assist graduates who have yet to secure permanent employment but have been blacklisted from travelling abroad due to PTPTN arrears.
Bernama
