Its chairman, Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said although the loan recovery had improved recently, it still had not reached the target.

He said that until December last year, PTPTN had disbursed loans amounting to RM56 billion and needed to get back at least RM15 billion, but only RM8 billion has been collected.

“We were forced to take some action such as making cuts in lending. Starting in 2014, we only gave 95 per cent of the study costs at public universities and 85 per cent at private institutions,” he told reporters after opening the Sungai Siput Umno division delegates meeting, here, today.

“I ask that the people support and understand the enforcement measures such as the Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) because it is not a blacklist but is a list of Bank Negara’s credit reference system.

He also called on graduates facing issues of repayment and who have not got a job to contact PTPTN to restructure and reschedule their loan payments.

He said the loan payment could be delayed for up to 24 months after graduation, but the administrative cost had to be borne by the borrower.