Students who defaulted on their study loans given by the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) will soon be summoned to the court for refusing to pay back their loaned amount.

According to Tajul Urus Md Zain, who is a member of the PTPTN board of directors, the corporation had no choice but to retort to court action since 104,083 students had defaulted on their payment from 2007 to Sept 30 this year.

He added that the court had issued summons to 69,573 who are regarded as stubborn loan defaulters.

“We (PTPTN) have no choice but to take stern action since these are loan defaulters who have refused to pay up despite many reminders and requests,” he told reporters after opening a community programme organised by the Merbok member of Parliament, PTPTN, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) at the Al-Majidi Mosque in Sungai Petani today.

Tajul said thus far, PTPTN has received RM2.7 billion from 725,000 borrowers, dating back from 1997 to last month, while the actual amount that should have been collected was RM5.6 billion.

“This shows that only 77 percent from the 937,000 borrowers have paid,” he said.

He said as of Sept 30 this year, the PTPTN had approved RM4.16 billion to 172,134 eligible recipients.

“Students who have completed their studies must fulfill their responsibility and obligation by paying back their loan amount so that others can enjoy a similar benefit to continue their studies.

“If they encounter any problems, they should inform PTPTN of their predicament instead of trying to avoid payment,” he said.

Meanwhile, PTPTN's senior manager for Investment Tuan Din Tuan Mat said the Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional (SSPN) launched by Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, had received very positive response.

“PTPTN has targeted RM60 million from SSPN savings this year and confident of achieving the figure since the response has increased by 100 percent,” he said.

- Bernama