Fight till the end, a story of PTPTN loan repayment exemption~~

Perhaps there are some people will be confusing on how to exemption for PTPTN loan repayment. Some will even think like they will automatically become one of the waiver once obtain the First Class Honours.
This is absolutely WRONG!

No pains, no gains! PTPTN is similar to scholarships, we need to spend time and apply for it.

Let me briefly explain how to exemption for PTPTN loan repayment!

Qualification of PTPTN loan repayment exemption:

1. Only for degree student
2. Must be full time degree
3. Your PTPTN loan cannot overlap with other scholarship or sponsorship
4. Must obtain First Class Honours
   *Remark: The CGPA of First Class Honours may be differ due to different university and course 
5. Must complete your study in the period that had been stipulated by PTPTN
6. Must complete your submission of application to PTPTN within twelve (12) months from the date of convocation
7. If you are come form IPTS, your course studied must be accredited by the MQA

List of documents required:

1. Copy of Degree Certificate
   
   *Remark: Must get Certified True Copy from university
2. If your Degree Certificate didn't stated "First Class Honours", you need to request a 'First Class Confirmation Letter' from your university'
3. Copy of Degree Academic Transcript 
   *Remark: Must get Certified True Copy from university
4. If you are come form IPTS, a Certified True Copy of  Certificate of Accreditation from MQA is required
   *Remark: Can get from your university
5. Fill out Declaration Form
   *Remark: Can download and print out form PTPTN official website, or, get from any PTPTN branch
   
   

After well-prepared for all documents, bring them to any PTPTN branch. (*Remark: Some branches which located in shopping mall are operating during weekend)

Once your completed documents have been collected, the authority will give you an Acknowledgement as a proof of submission (shown as below):

It's done, just waiting for the outcome! 
They will inform you through mailing a letter to you.

However, all these become not important at now.

Malaysian Government was announced that the scheme of PTPTN loan repayment exemption might be cancel in the Budget 2019.
This means that students who obtain First Class Honours are unable to enjoy for the benefit anymore.

For borrowers who come from B40 families, they could only enjoy for discount.

Doubtless, this became a shocking news for outstanding students. 

Up till now, I couldn't be sure to tell that whether this terms ever been altered.  

Hence, it is better to ask PTPTN officers for latest and accurate info.

Now, let me share my experience!

Story is quite long, please be patient to finish it, thanks!

I was graduated in 2018.

At the end of March, I went back university to get my certificates and transcripts.  

Yes, I was succeed to get First Class in my degree.
Therefore, I decided to apply for PTPTN loan repayment exemption.
I searched for related information from internet. 
On the next day, I brought all the documents that I received to the nearest PTPTN branch, planned to get  the Declaration Form from there, fill out and submit my documents to them.
Yet, I was been informed that my documents were not completed as the problem of MQA and some certified true copy. 
At that time, I still confused regards to MQA, I don't even know 'what is it' and 'where to get it'. Fortunately,  I met a good staff, she guided me patiently. After that, I went back my university to request for insufficient documents.
Finally after one month, the university's authorities had settled my documents and called up for collection.
Once again, I went back to the PTPTN's branch to submit my documents.
The authority gave me an Acknowledgement as a proof of submission. In the meanwhile, he told me PTPTN will inform me the outcome within one or two months.

I looked forward to receive the good news.

A bad news like a bolt from the blue came after one month!

I was received a reject letter with the reason of 'didn't completed my study in the period that had stipulated by PTPTN'!

This made me quite puzzle. I never extend, resit or retake my course; never suspend or withdraw my study and I was even followed the schedule which set by university every semester. 

Thus, why I being claimed that failed to complete my study in appointed period??

I called to PTPTN hotline forthwith and intended to ask is there any misunderstand in between, but the outcome was the same after double checked. 

Hence, I returned back to the PTPTN's branch to ask whether has any solution to sort out?

The authority told me I can do appealing. Just follow the step of first application and provide additional letter - 'Explanation Letter' from university (To explain why my course is not match with the period that had stipulated by PTPTN). 

Furthermore, he mentioned that I can visit to PTPTN headquarter to look for officer who work in Department of Appeals in order to get better information or expedite the process.

Hereupon, I called to university to inquiry for the matter and requested them to give me an 'Explanation Letter'. 

Yet, they keep pushing the responsible to each other, one said was problem from faculty, another one said was PTPTN Department, keep transferred my calls to each other. At the end they said will come back to me after checking.

That's it, i waited few days still unable to get answer from them! 

I straight away headed to PTPTN headquarter and I was being brought to Department of Appeals.

I told out my problem to one of the officer there. After listened to my story, he told me that actually quite numerous of IPTS will open few intakes in a year with the purpose of maximize income and this caused some courses exceed the period that had stipulated by PTPTN.

He further claimed that he couldn't do anything without the 'Explanation Letter'. The only we can do was waited for the letter from university.

I suddenly realized the root problem and who should take responsible for it.

Thus, I quickly turned back to university and looked for a reasonable explanation from them!

After few rounds of questioning, they just told me they were in process of appealing too.

In fact, my batch was not only one with problematic, but other courses and intakes also encounter the same problem. 

And my batch was classified as later batch, so currently they were handling for earlier batches.

Besides that, they promised to update me once received any news.

Under the circumstances, I chose to let them handle and waited for their response. 

Almost one month later, I tried to call up university and asked for the appeal status.

They answered me that still in progress. They were waiting for PTPTN to summon for a meeting.

I called them closely from once a month till once in two weeks. Nevertheless, everytime I received the same answer, which was pending at PTPTN side. 

In the twinkling of an eye, issue haven't settled yet after half year. 

There was people encourage me to look for help from Government Affairs Service Center.

Thus, I tried to call them and voice out my problem.

The representative who talk to me is a lady, she was quite friendly and helpful. 

She said that university was the key person in this matter. Chance will get higher if they provide me an 'Explanation Letter'.

Yet, the main problem was university reluctant to give me the letter and always asked me to be patient and waited. I knew this might be non-optimistic since dragged too long.

Moreover, she reminded me for the incoming year (2019), Government might cancel the scheme of PTPTN loan repayment exemption. So, I need to act quickly before implemented this. 

That was my last time to contact university, I told them 'Please provide me some related documents even if you don't want to give me the 'Explanation Letter'. I couldn't waited anymore and wish to do appealing for myself.'

I guessed I was too much annoyed for them, so they straight forwarded me some emails which they sent to PTPTN before. 

After received for the email, I contact the lady from Government Affairs Service Center once again. She advised me to write an 'Appeal Letter' to PTPTN with those attachment I received. In order to expedite whole progress, she gave me an email address and asked me to send over to that email. 

I followed what her guidance although the time frame was too short. 

I knew there was nothing can be regret if worse scenario happened. At least I had tried my best to fight till the end!

After few days, I received a call from PTPTN.

He told me they were dealing with my appeal and there was chance to get success. I only need to fill out the Declaration Form and send back to them again.

This news filled my heart with hope and boosted up my confidence.

After endless tossing about, finally I received a good news. I WAS SUCCESSFUL! 

My joyous was hard to be describe at that moment.
I could only said it was much more excited than gained 4 flat in my GPA.
All the effort used, time spent and tiredness were worth to pay off!

Greatly appreciate to my family members and friends who took part in helping me to make this into reality.

A lesson I learned was don't ever give up till it's over. Sometimes miracle is waiving to you. Be brave and have courage to step out!

'Rome is not built in one day'. Hope is Persistence! Fighting! 

'Don't lose faith, as long as unremittingly, you will get some fruits'