1.16 Million PTPTN Borrowers Owe RM10.7bil In Unpaid Loans, Higher Education Ministry Reveals | WeirdKaya

A total of 1.16 million PTPTN borrowers had accumulated RM10.7 billion in outstanding loan repayments as of Aug 31, 2026, according to the Higher Education Ministry.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir revealed the figure in a written parliamentary reply, saying it represents the latest amount still owed to the National Higher Education Fund Corporation.

RM10.7bil still outstanding

The ministry said the unpaid amount involved 1.16 million borrowers, highlighting the scale of PTPTN’s ongoing repayment challenge.

Zambry said PTPTN has introduced and will continue implementing various measures to improve collections and ensure the long-term sustainability of its financing system.

These measures include enforcement action, as well as cooperation with government agencies and corporations to improve repayment collection.

PTPTN working to improve collections

The ministry said PTPTN is also strengthening its engagement with borrowers and looking at ways to make repayments more manageable.

At the same time, borrowers who are genuinely facing financial difficulties may still seek restructuring or rescheduling options rather than simply stopping payments.

The government has repeatedly stressed that loan repayments are important because money collected from existing borrowers is used to support future students.

Issue raised in Parliament

The RM10.7 billion figure was disclosed in response to a parliamentary question from Jelebu MP Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias.

The latest data comes as concerns continue over the sustainability of Malaysia’s student loan system and the large amount of money that remains uncollected.

For now, the ministry says it will continue stepping up collection efforts while balancing enforcement with repayment assistance for borrowers who need it.