Bezakan peminjam tak mampu, enggan bayar sebelum lupus hutang PTPTN, kata ahli akademik

PTPTN borrowers struggle to pay back loans, but not all are unable to, according to academic Ahmed Zanzali. The Malaysian government should distinguish between those who truly cannot afford repayments and those who are simply unwilling, he said. Zanzali from Universiti Muhammadiyah Malaysia stressed that the main issue is not whether PTPTN loans should be canceled, but identifying the financial situation of each group of borrowers.

He suggested a targeted system to identify each group of borrowers based on their economic and social circumstances before taking any action. Some borrowers want to pay back but cannot due to job prospects not matching their qualifications, he told FMT. Zanzali also referenced PKR Youth Deputy Chief Kamil Munim's suggestion that the government consider a targeted mechanism for forgiving or resolving loans for those who are truly unable to pay.

He reminded that borrowers have varying economic capabilities, with some graduates already earning good wages while others are still building lives with limited income. UKM academic Affendi Matore emphasized that the government needs to improve targeted solutions, which should have clear definitions and criteria to avoid providing aid indiscriminately.

He proposed that qualification should not be based solely on the borrower's declaration, but take into account dynamic gross income data, housing commitments, and credit profile. Zanzali believes targeted aid can be given to solid poor groups who clearly pass the capability test or those who clearly have no steady income source or face chronic underemployment.