State govt will assist youths to repay PTPTN loan, says Abang Johari

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Abang Johari joins Sarawakians in a group photo at the event.

KUALA LUMPUR: The state government will help Sarawakian students repay the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) Loan, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Abang Johari revealed that the State Cabinet had discussed the matter recently and would seek funding for the purpose.

“For the time being, we are still looking for the best mechanism, whether we will provide a special fund to borrowers for them to repay their PTPTN debt.

“For the next six months we will be looking for a formula so that Sarawakians will not have difficulty in paying the debt,” he said at the #TanyakAbangJo Town Hall Session in conjunction with the Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak (LBAS) 2019 event at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here today.

The session saw Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof acting as moderator, with about 5,000 Sarawakians studying and working in Peninsular Malaysia in attendance.

Abang Johari said it was important for the state government to raise funds so that Sarawakians could repay their loans and debts.

In addition, he said the government would also provide loans and scholarships from its own fund managed by Yayasan Sarawak.

At the same time, he said the government had organised the ‘Program Abas Orang Kamek’ at several Institutions of Higher Learning in Peninsular Malaysia to promote the state’s unique culture.

Therefore, he said if any institution needed allocations to organise festivals such as Hari Gawai at public institutions, they were welcome to apply and their requests will be considered.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Amar James Masing, LBAS 2019 organising chairman and Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and other Cabinet ministers.