Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional chairman: Student loan repayments key to sustaining education financing
IPOH, Feb 28 — Repayments made by borrowers to the Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) are critical to ensuring the continuity of higher education funding for future generations, said its chairman Datuk Seri Norliza Abdul Rahim.
She explained that the government currently allocates approximately RM3 billion each year to support around 600,000 students, including both existing recipients and new applicants seeking financial assistance for their tertiary education.
Speaking during the PTPTN Imarah Ramadan Programme (IMRAN) @ Politeknik Ungku Omar 2026 here, Norliza emphasised that loan repayments play an essential role in maintaining the sustainability of the national education financing ecosystem.
To assist borrowers facing financial challenges, she said PTPTN has introduced flexible initiatives such as #PTPTNBolehBincang and #PTPTNSediaBantu, which allow borrowers to negotiate repayment terms based on their individual financial circumstances.
She urged borrowers to proactively engage with PTPTN to discuss repayment options and avoid enforcement actions, stressing that the agency remains committed to helping them fulfil their obligations in a manageable way.
In addition to loan financing, Norliza highlighted PTPTN’s ongoing efforts to cultivate a savings culture among Malaysians, particularly parents, through the National Education Savings Scheme known as Simpan SSPN.
She said the programme aims to encourage early financial preparation for children’s higher education and gradually reduce dependence on student loans.
According to her, Simpan SSPN Prime offers various attractive benefits, including annual income tax relief of up to RM8,000, complimentary takaful protection, matching grants, competitive dividend returns, and government-guaranteed savings that comply with syariah principles.
She added that families earning up to RM4,000 per month qualify for matching grants of up to RM10,000 under the scheme.
Furthermore, under Budget 2025, the government expanded the eligibility criteria through the Ihsan Matching Grant Initiative (GAPAI), allowing households with monthly incomes between RM4,000 and RM6,000 to receive matching grants of up to RM5,000 per family for a two-year period.
Meanwhile, Politeknik Ungku Omar was selected as the second venue for the IMRAN 2026 programme, which has been one of PTPTN’s flagship corporate social responsibility initiatives since its introduction in 2021.
The programme reflects PTPTN’s broader commitment not only to providing education financing but also to supporting community development and raising awareness about financial responsibility among students and families.
-wilayah.com.my
