PTPTN fee hassle expected to be resolved by June next year

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KUALA LUMPUR: Some 800,000 National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan borrowers who are still paying an administration fee of three per cent, can expect the problem to be over by June next year.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said data migration of 1.4 million PTPTN loan borrowers to the Ujrah scheme where the fee is only one per cent, which had been delayed almost two years, would be completed by then.

“However, for 300,000 borrowers who have more than one loan, the new offer (one per cent administration fee) will be done in stages,” he told reporters after attending a students awards ceremony and media get-together at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Wednesday.

He said although the fee reduction was announced in 2008, there were “teething problems” in ensuring each eligible account was adjusted to the new scheme.

He said from Sept 30, information will be posted on PTPTN’s website on the latest status of the students’ loans in stages.

Khaled was clarifying the situation as there had been too many complaints from borrowers that they were still being made to pay the old rate for the administration fee.

Meanwhile, Khaled said 2,162 PTPTN borrowers from public and private universities who obtained First Class degrees from January to July this year had their loans converted to full scholarships which involved a cost of RM59.7 million. — Bernama