PTPTN loan repayment culture improving - Muhyiddin

The culture of repaying the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans has improved as a result of various awareness programmes and enforcement actions, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Deputy Prime Minister said as of March this year, RM54.51 billion had been allocated to 2.39 million borrowers with the amount recovered totalling RM5.12 billion from 956,018 borrowers.

"The rising trend shows that in 2011, PTPTN managed to recover RM737 million, in 2012 RM800.47 million and RM1.2 billion last year," he said.

His speech was delivered by Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris at the launch of the national-level Sahabat PTPTN (Friends of PTPTN) programme and presentation of the national Education Savings Scheme (SSPN-i) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here on Tuesday.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said since its establishment 16 years ago, PTPTN has contributed to the government's efforts to democratise education, enabling more people to access tertiary education.