MARA will not stop sponsoring its students abroad - Ahmad Jazlan

The Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) will not stop sponsoring students to study abroad despite the current economic challenges faced by the country.

Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said although the allocation for MARA education was reduced by RM0.4 billion to RM1.7 billion this year, as compared to RM2.1 bilion in 2015, the agency would seek additional provision to meet the sponsorship need.

"We will ensure that our sponsored students will complete their studies and they will have sufficient facilities until their graduation," he said after officiating a student leadership course, organised by the Kelantan Graduates Assembly (HIMSAK) at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan branch campus in Pengkalan Chepa, here today.

Present were HIMSAK president Datuk Faizal Daud and UMK vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Mortaza Mohamed.

Elaborating, Ahmad Jazlan said among steps to be taken to get the additional provision was to temporarily stop providing business loans to entrepreneurs.

He also dismissed claims by certain quarters that MARA had ostensibly 'forgotten' its responsibility to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs following the decision to stop providing business loans.

In the meantime, he urged MARA education borrowers to repay their loans to give others the chance to make a loan and receive education help.

"To those who have succeeded but still refused to repay their loans, they have to do something, because it will only deprive other students of receiving loan facilities," he said.