PETALING JAYA: Students who graduated with first-class honours and are hoping to obtain loan exemptions from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) will have to wait a while longer.

PTPTN told The Star that its website service for first-class honours loan exemption applications is currently unavailable as it awaits approval from the Finance Ministry.

“PTPTN has not yet opened applications to convert loans into scholarships for first-class honours graduates, and the approval date for borrowers to apply has not been confirmed yet. We will inform borrowers once applications can be accepted,” a PTPTN spokesman said in response to queries from The Star following complaints from students frustrated by the wait.

Grace Anne (name has been changed to protect privacy), who graduated in November last year, said she has been unable to submit her application or appeal for a loan exemption.

“I started emailing them in early April but received no response,” the 23-year-old said, adding that the specific service required for the process on the PTPTN website was marked as “under maintenance” at the time.

Grace said she has been checking the website regularly for updates and described the exemption process as frustrating.

“I won’t lie, the exemption feels impossible at times, but I don’t want to give up,” she said, adding that an approved appeal would mean the world to her.

“I could start my adult life free from student debt and focus fully on saving and getting by, especially with how expensive everything is nowadays,” she said.

Another graduate, who wished to be known only as Ameen and also graduated last November, said she too has struggled to apply for the loan exemption.

“The website says it’s temporarily closed, so I can’t apply for the exemption, and it’s already been three months since I completed all the required documents,” she said.

Ameen expressed hope that the issue would be resolved soon.

“Getting the exemption would greatly help me so I can save more money for my future. I have family commitments to support while earning a living,” she said.

sadge ayam grad 2023 result can qualify exemption but x amik ptptn

But MARA still got funding sending students to USA, UK dan lain lain.

feeling entitled tsktsk

MARA tu under ministry siapa
mesti kena cukup bajet la

Biasalah tuh, kan gov. machinery semuanya separuh masak

inb4 ini semua salah d4p

Go elsewhere earn any types of $, pay back in MYR lah, sap sap Sui.

Bmx kata semua dapat.......kencing

tukar jadi discount dah

exempt full and no pay income tax really dai sei leaching country

Already not .. see yesterday paper they stopped it

itu not stop US only cuz trumpet? they redirect to UK etc

"start emailing", "checking the website","The website says"

deiiii, so lazy to go ptptn office ka?

Should not have exemption because PTPTN is meant to keep rolling for future generations. Otherwise where got funds to loan to students in the future?

ya mang, not rike all of these first class honour graduates gonna serve or stay in this country in future, many of them migrate to other country pun

Dah hutang bayarlah.

the one that benefit out of this were degree mills students la.
my uni(ipta) course last time, first class honour is only 3 students.

wait wait wait, during the borrower apply loan from PTPTN, is there any clause or T&C mentioned that PTPTN loan will be exempted if borrower graduate as first class honors?

check the black & white copy first which was sign by the borrower XX years ago.

If NO, just pay back the money lah....dah sign masih tak nak mengaku sendiri mau pinjam?

This one ayam support. Gip the kids something to work hard towards.

All the stupid MARA and JPA scholarships should be converted to this model. Especially the overseas ones.

Work hard, it is effectively a scholarship.

Slack off, bayar balik.

things is once gomen give gula2, they think the gula2 stays forever

even if black and white memang always have this clause

Tongkat culture from young age.... = MY culture.

Exactly.

https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/2289...n-harapan-pru15

politician no matter from which party, always give janji kosong or oral agreement only

c'mon lah....oral agreement can trust these days? Unless re-sign a new black and white letter 1st then talk lah

those no pay back is even bigger issue than exemption, if want then tackle those first

Hahahaha they even dare tell USA education department to learn from us say we don't have quota thing .

Nota: Pertimbangan/ Kelulusan pengecualian bayaran balik adalah tertakluk kepada kedudukan semasa kewangan Kerajaan.

with this clause, it didn't say is a YES or NO for exempted also

therefore, dah pinjam...still need to pay back right?

you just graduated in 2023

yes, so deswai now can't apply for exemption they start buat bising lor try to budge populis bmx lol

nanti sinki open arms welcome them they dun return meresiah gov complain about brain drain

To me it's the same problem. Pinjam liao dunwan pay back. Excuses given. One excuse is got first class degree wait for exemption. The other is no money/got commitment/want to get married/want to buy car/want to buy house/etc dunwan pay back. When signing up for the loan because didn't have enough money to go to university, did they not think they need to pay it back? Because of this delinquency, others may not get the opportunities in the future.

It’s based on bajet announcement

Not sure if pmx announced the extension for ptptn exemption

Agreed. Already has big chance for high salary job and top scorer mostly will work overseas

Meanwhile, Sarawakians are going to get this free https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025...ll-time-studies

Should only keep the top few IPTAs n convert all the rest subpar ones to TVET. We don't need unemployable graduates.
All those attending IPTA have to use ptptn loan n only the top students will be exempted from paying back as encouragement. Whereas TVET should be heavily subsidise.
No more quota and all based on merit. All do preU either Matriks OR STPM.

and 2 years later can buy eMas7 liao. geng.

Bukan semua orang boleh jadi first class bro, u think so easy ah?
Plus not everyone gets 100% subsidy from PTPTN. I for one supports the idea to encourage student to work hard and be rewarded for their hardwork

Some student dont deserve to study in public uni yet they are still in there, why?

cakap loan tapi tak mau bayar balik.. budaya kito

apply for scholarships or sponsor
first class from top rate uni should be easy to repay loan