More than 2.5 million borrowers have begun repaying their National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans as of August, says the higher education ministry.
It said that cumulatively, as of Aug 31, about 2.98 million borrowers were due to begin repayment, with the total amount expected to be collected standing at RM36.42 billion.
“Of this figure, 2.53 million borrowers have already started or are currently repaying their loans, totalling RM25.25 billion,” it said in a written parliamentary reply to Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu).
Rosol had asked the ministry for the total number of borrowers and the outstanding amount owed to PTPTN that has not been repaid since 2022.
PTPTN, established in 1997, provides study loans to help Malaysians pursue higher education.
Over the years, repayment collection has remained a challenge, with periodic government campaigns offering discounts and flexible repayment schemes to encourage borrowers to settle their debts.
Tabling the 2026 budget last week, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced a PTPTN loan repayment exemption for all first-class degree holders from public universities who come from low- and middle-income families.
Higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said yesterday the exemption policy for private university first-class graduates is under review, as the government re-evaluates the definition of “first-class” across both private and public institutions.
