The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) has disbursed a total of RM77.5 billion in loans, helping more than 4.26 million students across the country pursue higher education.
Measures to ease repayment burden
Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim told the Dewan Rakyat that several support measures remain in place to help borrowers manage their loans.
These include a 12-month deferment period after graduation, giving fresh graduates time to find stable jobs before starting repayments.
For those facing financial hardship, PTPTN allows restructuring of repayment plans according to individual income levels, with flexible terms that can extend up to the age of 60.
Adam Adli emphasised that these options are designed to prevent undue pressure on borrowers, especially during challenging economic times.
Clarification on travel restrictions
Addressing concerns about travel bans, Adam Adli explained that overseas travel restrictions are applied only in very limited cases.
He said the measure affects only borrowers with high or sufficient income who are in serious default and meet specific criteria.
“Travel restrictions do not target fresh graduates, those without income, or borrowers from the B40 and M40 groups,” he stressed during the oral question session.
At present, only about 0.7 percent of all defaulters are subject to such restrictions.
The deputy minister was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran) on steps taken to assist graduates who are still unemployed but have been blacklisted from travelling abroad due to PTPTN arrears.
