PTPTN first class honours loan exemption under review as govt weighs fairness and sustainability

The Malaysian government is considering a PTPTN loan repayment exemption for first-class honours graduates, focusing on fairness and sustainability in education financing.

Criticisms were raised over changing repayment exemption terms for pre-2025 borrowers.

Additional measures include repayment deferments and discounts for borrowers, with a new MediAsas insurance product expected to launch that will include employer subsidies.

Furthermore, the government will review insurance procedures to address issues concerning policyholder rights and rising medical costs.

Budget 2027's expenditure was approved by the Dewan Rakyat.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 —The government will study a loan repayment exemption policy for previous National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers who earned first-class honours degrees.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the review would consider fairness to borrowers while ensuring the country’s education financing policy remains sustainable.

“We will continue to review PTPTN’s policy to ensure that assistance is targeted and provided only to those who genuinely need it. Any exemptions will also be assessed in line with this policy,” he said when winding up the committee-stage debate on the Supply Bill 2027 (Budget 2027) for the Finance Ministry in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday

Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Stampin) interjected to highlight concerns among borrowers who took out PTPTN loans in 2025 or earlier, saying changes to the eligibility requirements breached their contracts.

Chong said previous loan agreements explicitly provided for repayment exemptions for borrowers who graduated with first-class honours degrees, and urged the government to maintain the exemption for existing borrowers until a new policy is announced.

On measures to support graduates, Amir Hamzah said the government allows PTPTN borrowers earning up to RM2,500 a month to defer repayments, while those earning between RM2,501 and RM3,000 must pay a minimum of RM50 monthly to ease their transition into the workforce.

He said borrowers who make regular repayments without falling into arrears are eligible for a 10 per cent discount, while employers who help repay their employees’ loans will qualify for tax deductions from Jan 1, 2027, to Dec 31, 2028.

In a separate development, Amir Hamzah said the government, through Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), would review insurance providers’ operating procedures after complaints that policyholders at private hospitals faced restrictions on their choice of specialist doctors.

He said the government would discuss the matter with BNM to protect consumer rights and curb rising medical costs.

“Regulation of the insurance industry falls under BNM, and as part of this initiative, the central bank will review the procedures adopted by insurance providers.

“Equally important is ensuring that all industry players comply with sound regulations to prevent medical cost inflation from rising, as everyone would ultimately bear the resulting costs,” he said.

On expanding access to comprehensive healthcare protection, Amir Hamzah said the affordable MediAsas insurance and takaful product is expected to be launched in late January next year, adding that the product will use a diagnosis-based payment system to curb rising treatment costs, while allowing Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members under 55 to pay premiums using their Akaun Sejahtera.

As part of efforts to support workers’ welfare, the government has agreed to provide employers of small and medium enterprises with fewer than 75 employees a first-year premium subsidy of RM200 per worker, with each company eligible for a maximum of 50 workers, he added.

The Dewan Rakyat subsequently approved the Finance Ministry’s estimated 2027 operating and development expenditure of RM68,159,895,600 under Budget 2027 by a voice vote, following debate by 27 MPs. — Bernama

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马来西亚政府正在考虑对获得一等荣誉学位的毕业生免除高等教育基金贷款偿还，重点关注教育融资的公平性和可持续性。

有人对2025年以前借款人的还款豁免条款的变更提出了批评。

其他措施包括延期还款和为借款人提供折扣，预计还将推出新的 MediAsas 保险产品，其中包括雇主补贴。

此外，政府还将审查保险程序，以解决与投保人权利和不断上涨的医疗费用相关的问题。

2027 年财政预算案的支出已获下议院批准。

吉隆坡，11月4日讯——政府将研究一项针对此前获得一等荣誉学位的国家高等教育基金局（PTPTN）借款人的贷款偿还豁免政策。

第二财政部长拿督斯里阿米尔·哈姆扎·阿齐赞表示，此次审查将考虑对借款人的公平性，同时确保国家教育融资政策的可持续性。

“我们将继续审查高等教育基金局（PTPTN）的政策，以确保援助具有针对性，并且只提供给真正需要的人。任何豁免也将根据这项政策进行评估，”他在昨天国会下议院财政部就2027年供应法案（2027年预算案）进行委员会阶段辩论结束时表示。

张健仁（PH-Stampin）插话强调了在 2025 年或之前获得 PTPTN 贷款的借款人的担忧，称资格要求的变更违反了他们的合同。

庄先生表示，之前的贷款协议明确规定，获得一等荣誉学位的借款人可免除还款义务，他敦促政府在新的政策出台之前，维持对现有借款人的豁免政策。

关于支持毕业生的措施，阿米尔·哈姆扎表示，政府允许月收入不超过 2500 令吉的高等教育基金贷款借款人延期还款，而月收入在 2501 令吉至 3000 令吉之间的借款人每月至少需支付 50 令吉，以帮助他们顺利过渡到就业市场。

他表示，按时还款且不拖欠的借款人可享受 10% 的折扣，而帮助员工偿还贷款的雇主可从 2027 年 1 月 1 日至 2028 年 12 月 31 日享受税收减免。

另据报道，阿米尔·哈姆扎表示，政府将通过马来西亚国家银行（BNM）审查保险公司的运营程序，此前有投诉称，私立医院的投保人在选择专科医生方面面临限制。

他表示，政府将与马来西亚国家银行讨论此事，以保护消费者权益并遏制不断上涨的医疗成本。

“保险业的监管属于马来西亚国家银行（BNM）的管辖范围，作为这项举措的一部分，中央银行将审查保险公司所采取的程序。

“同样重要的是，要确保所有行业参与者遵守合理的法规，以防止医疗成本上涨，因为最终每个人都将承担由此产生的成本，”他说。

关于扩大全面医疗保健保障的覆盖范围，Amir Hamzah 表示，价格实惠的 MediAsas 保险和伊斯兰保险产品预计将于明年 1 月下旬推出。他还补充说，该产品将采用基于诊断的支付系统来控制不断上涨的治疗费用，同时允许 55 岁以下的雇员公积金 (EPF) 会员使用他们的 Akaun Sejahtera 账户支付保费。

为支持工人福利，政府已同意向雇员人数少于 75 人的中小企业雇主提供第一年每位工人 200 令吉的保费补贴，每家公司最多可补贴 50 名工人，他补充道。

下议院随后以口头表决的方式批准了财政部在2027年财政预算案中提出的2027年运营和发展支出预算，金额为68,159,895,600令吉。此前，27名国会议员进行了辩论。——马新社

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