A third year Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) journalism student feared that she would be expelled from the campus should she fail to settle her tuition fees on time.

The student from Petaling Jaya campus claimed that she was warned by the university's finance department last week to pay up her tuition fees by Jan 17.

According to her, she has yet to receive to receive her Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) loan for this semester. Ten of her classmates also faced the same predicament.

The 24-year-old undergraduate who declined to be named told malaysiakini that eleven of them were told that they would be kicked out of the campus if no payment is made by Jan 29.

Utar's first semester begins from Jan 3 till May 1, 2005.

"When I went to the Student Affairs Department to appeal, they said the matter is not their concern as they are not responsible for fees," the frustrated undergraduate said.

"The Finance Department later suggested that I should deal with PTPTN," she added.

"Some of my friends are even thinking of borrowing from loan sharks. They are afraid of being dismissed," the student said.

Utar Finance Department officials refused to comment on the matter when malaysiakini contacted them yesterday. The university's Student Affairs Department also declined to comment.

Speedy procedure

According to a PTPTN officer, loan disbursement to students is a speedy procedure if all documentations are in order.

"If we receive the confirmation status from colleges or universities as scheduled, it should be a speedy process (to disburse loans)," the officer informed malaysiakini.

The officer also said that from May 2003 onwards, funds are credited directly to the individual students' accounts.

Initially funds were given to the respective colleges or universities to avoid complaints from students that some institutions did not clear fees payment.

Utar, established and run by the MCA, has three campuses namely in Petaling Jaya, Sungai Long and Kuala Lumpur.