PTPTN Reaches Out To Communities Via Jelajah Aspirasi Malaysia 2025, Promotes Savings Habit

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Upholding the spirit of independence, the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) took part in the Jelajah Aspirasi 2025 Programme, engaging communities to cultivate financial planning and savings habits from an early age for a more secure educational future.

PTPTN chairman Datuk Seri Norliza Abdul Rahim said the programme served as a strategic platform for the corporation to engage with the community, explain its products and raise awareness on the importance of saving.

She said the concept of saving reflected the true spirit of independence, as it could help the community break free from the chains of debt.

“PTPTN aims to change the community’s mindset from borrowing to saving so that they can truly be independent from the shackles of debt in the future,” she told reporters after attending the Jelajah Aspirasi Malaysia 2025 Programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sungai Gelugor here.

Also present were Penang State Broadcasting Department (RTM) director Nor Hisham Abbas, Penang State Education Department’s Learning Sector deputy director Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad, PTPTN senior general manager Wan Zawiah Wan Abu Bakar, and PTPTN Penang State Office director Muhammad Muhsin Abdul Rahman.

The programme was organised by RTM and PTPTN as strategic partners, aiming to provide the public with information to appreciate the meaning of independence, with Penang serving as the third stop of the tour.

As part of its social responsibility initiative, PTPTN contributed RM100 each to 100 SK Sungai Gelugor students in the form of National Education Savings Scheme (Simpan SSPN) Prime accounts.

Prizes were also presented to the winners of a competition held in conjunction with the programme, which aimed to raise awareness of the importance of saving for education from an early age and to support aspirations for higher education.

According to Norliza, Simpan SSPN offered a range of benefits, including income tax relief on savings of up to RM8,000 per year, takaful protection, free matching grants of up to RM10,000 for eligible families, competitive dividend rates, and Syariah compliance.

She said the theme of the 2025 National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations, ‘Malaysia MADANI: Rakyat Disantuni’, reflected PTPTN’s role in ensuring that the community, particularly students, continued to receive support through equal higher education opportunities regardless of their background.

Norliza said the theme underscored the government’s principle of prioritising community welfare, ensuring that all individuals were given attention and valued in all aspects of life, including the economy, education, health, and safety.

“PTPTN is proud to be a catalyst for success by providing loan facilities, education savings schemes, and digital innovations that facilitate transactions in line with the aspirations of MADANI Malaysia to build a brighter and more inclusive future,” she said.

Norliza said that to facilitate loan repayment, PTPTN offered loan restructuring facilities under the Lestari Pendidikan campaign, allowing borrowers to arrange flexible payment plans according to their financial capacity.

She added that PTPTN always allowed borrowers with repayment issues to engage and negotiate with the corporation through #PTPTNBolehBincang.

Meanwhile, Norliza said PTPTN, in collaboration with RTM, produced a song titled ‘Demi Generasi Ku’ to enhance awareness of loan repayment.

--BERNAMA