The PTPTN Issue

At first, I didn't intend to write my review on this matter. After having few thoughts on my financial crisis at this very beginning of the semester, I decided to give it a go, and so here is my say on the issue of PTPTN (Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Negara) money credit delay.

We were not informed on this matter by the university officials earlier until Encik Jamal Abdul Nasir Jamaluddin from JHEPA (Jabatan Hal Ehwal Pelajar & Alumni) posted this annoucement on 31 December 2008, two days after the semester opened.

Assalamualaikum wbt & Salam Sejahtera. Untuk pemakluman mahasiswa/i Universiti Malaysia Pahang, wang pinjaman PTPTN anda dijangka akan dimasukkan ke dalam akaun anda bermula 21 JANUARI 2009. Kelewatan ini disebabkan beberapa masalah teknikal yang telah berjaya diselesaikan. Sebarang pertanyaan sila berjumpa saya di Unit Biasiswa & Pembiayaan Blok B2-01-02. Harap maklum.

Looking at the past records, the money were usually credited to the students' accounts few days before or after the new semester opens. I'm sure many of the students rely on the PTPTN money to finance their personal needs such as reference books, food expenses, travelling expenses, etc.

And there are students who used PTPTN money to help their family financial especially to those who lived a hard life. Giving the excuse of having already solved technical problems isn't a good solution to proceed the matter. My question would be were we the one who caused the technical problem? In a memorandum sent by Izzat Saidon, the Treasurer of MPP (Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar), the university's definition of technical problem is the delay of the students' previous semester result submission to PTPTN. That isn't a technical problem. That is an administration problem.

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera.

Pertama-tamanya saya mewakili barisan kepimpinan Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar sesi 08/09 mengucapkan selamat menyambut kedatangan tahun baru 2009 kepada seluruh siswa/siswi Universiti Malaysia Pahang. Diharap dengan kedatangan tahun baru ini, kita semua akan menjadi lebih baik dari segala aspek,lahiriah,spiritual,insaniah,akademik,tingkah laku,pergaulan dan hubungan yang kuat dengan Maha Pencipta.

Seperti semua sedia maklum, PTPTN anda akan dimasukkan ke dalam akaun pada 21 JANUARI 2009. Kelewatan pembayaran PTPTN ini disebabkan beberapa faktor dan juga masalah teknikal yang telah berjaya diselesaikan.

Oleh kerana keputusan peperiksaan untuk semester lepas lewat dikeluarkan dan disahkan oleh Mesyuarat Senat mengakibatkan kemasukan PTPTN juga menjadi lewat kerana pihak pentadbiran Universiti perlu menghantar keputusan anda kepada pihak PTPTN terlebih dahulu sebelum proses pengeditan PTPTN anda dapat dilakukan.

Seterusnya, data yang lengkap beserta senarai mereka yang layak menerima PTPTN akan dihantar kepada pihak PTPTN. Dan kemudiannya barulah proses kemasukan pembayaran PTPTN dilakukan oleh pihak berkenaan.

Sememangnya kerenah birokrasi tidak dapat dielakkan dan jaminan daripada pihak PTPTN, pembayaran PTPTN tidak akan lewat dari 21 JANUARI 2009. Namun begitu, di pihak MPP akan terus memaklumkan dari semasa ke semasa perkembangan terbaru tentang PTPTN dan diharap siswa/siswi sentiasa alert. Sebarang kesulitan amat dikesali.

Sure the students won't die of hunger without the PTPTN money but think on how are they supposed to pay for the reference books that averagely cost around RM 200? Will the university officials or the PTPTN officials lend their help on that? That doesn't include the later payment on club fees, club activities, etc. That requires a lot of money and all these while, the PTPTN money have been a great savior to the students.

I wish this matter is informed earlier so that they students are prepared to proceed the problem. They can at least plan their financial with a little help from the parents or other financial resources. I don't put blame on the students and the students' coucil for sure. Whether they are willing to accept the fact, I'm putting the blame on the university's officials. I've been sulked enough by the birocracy of many government departments and unreasonable and lame excuses given to defend themselves.

Live the reality, people! There's one Malay proverb that might be useful for your reference. "Berani kerana benar, takut kerana salah". This is definitely not a good way to start a new year.