After finishing my STPM with 3.25 points, I decided to pursue my Bachelor of Law studies by taking a loan from Perkeso (Socso), a move that I regret until now.

Taking a loan from Perkeso has been a totally unpleasant experience. Although it is not supposed to be one, since it belongs to the government.

I felt from the beginning of year one as if I had borrowed from a loanshark, especially for their hidden clauses. I had no idea how many others out there may have suffered the loss and emotional breakdowns that I have because of the officers who have treated me badly over the loan.

Perkeso’s loan is given out to a student only when one of the parents is receiving pencen ilat (disability pension, as given to my mother, whom is a dialysis patient). Therefore, it is very clear and obvious that those pursuing the loan suffer from a critical financial situations. I made many visits to the Perkeso office in KL, and each visit I get different advice from their officers. From the very beginning, there was no briefing arranged by these officers.

One of the many incidents at the Perkeso office that I want to highlight is during the first year of my studies, when I was forced to fork out RM4,000 to pay my fees.

Such an amount is not easy and downright impossible for a student to raise, especially when my father is a retiree, furthermore I was facing exams less than 3 months away.

This happened because of the officer’s failure to disclose that the loan exclude payments for certain things, for an example, they excluded my university registration fee! Which was actually as per the letter given by my college, that by right they should provide for or at least inform me of the exclusion.

The agreement papers do not mention any of these exclusion clauses at all.

My first emotional breakdown was caused by a so called counsellor at Perkeso, who shouted at me and disheartened me by saying that students like myself should discontinue my studies and start paying the loan.

To make matters worse, the same person who had thus advised me to work to pay the balance of tuition fees myself, then at a later stage revoked the loan agreement on the basis that I had worked.

With the ‘loan’ insufficient to cover my studies, I had to fork out so much more and at the same time study full time, surely this is impossible. The decision to take action against me working after advising me to do just that, is shocking.

I hope someone can investigate this matter, and whether it is a recurrent problem with Perkeso.

Right now, I am struggling by working part time and balancing my studies.

Moreover, I had told Perkeso that I am still studying and hence requested for an extension to repay the loan, but they have refused to listen and have rejected my appeal, indirectly forcing me to drop my studies in order to work to pay the loan.

I really regret the decision to continue my studies under Perkeso’s loan. With their poor service and inadequate loan, I have suffered a lot.

Now with an additional burden on my shoulders, I have to start paying the loan at 4 percent interest.