KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association (PPIM) today claimed that several private colleges have been duping students by making unnecessary deductions from their students’ study loans and zakat allowances.
PPIM lead activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said the association had received 30 reports on such cases, which he said was worrying and unacceptable.
“Many private colleges out there are taking advantage of students by deducting their National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) study loans without any valid reason.
“It is sad as the loans given by PTPTN to benefit the students have been misused by irresponsible parties.
“I believe this is a serious issue and PTPTN should go down to the ground and monitor the private colleges to prevent such cases,” he said.
A former student of a private college in Kedah, Noraini Muslim, 26, claimed that her PTPTN loan was deducted by the college every semester throughout her six years of studying, without any clear explanation.
“I receive RM8,000 for every semester from PTPTN; RM3,500 is for tuition fees and the balance of RM4,500 is for daily expenses.
“However, I realised that my college, after deducting RM3,500 for the tuition fees, also took an additional RM200 to RM500 from my loan every semester without any valid reason.”
Noraini said that when asked, the college only replied that it was for “additional fees.”
She also claimed that her zakat allowance of RM400 per year was deducted by half by the college.
Nadzim, meanwhile, urged the Higher Education Ministry to establish a committe to investigate the matter.
Full Article at https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/01/321513/why-are-private-colleges-making-extra-deductions-students-ptptn-loans