The National Higher Education Fund Corporation's (PTPTN) decision to freeze loans to Universiti Selangor (Unisel) students may prompt some to drop out.
Several students interviewed by Malaysiakini - many of whom spoke on condition of anonymity - said some of their peers have already decided to leave the institution, with more on the way out if PTPTN does not allow them to apply for the study loans.
Edy (left), an 18-year-old from Terengganu, said he was aware of two students having already left Unisel after failing to get the education loan.
The arts and design student is himself worried about his higher education prospects. With his two teacher parents having to provide for his seven younger siblings, every ringgit counts.
"I'm thinking of moving to another institution, because if we cannot get loans here, it will be difficult for me," he said, expressing hope that PTPTN would soon reverse its decision.
Bob, 18, also faces a similar situation. The oldest of six siblings, the mass communication student is also troubled by the university's unprecedented shut-out from PTPTN.
"We hope that PTPTN will just give us the loans," he said, explaining that with his mother working at a pre-school and his father doing maintenance work, supporting his studies would be near impossible.
Some finding part-time work
He too has heard of two or three students dropping out of Unisel after failing to apply for the loan, and may follow suit if the situation came down to it.
"If I cannot get PTPTN, I may quit," he said. But he added that he would wait for new developments before considering his options.
He related how students had already begun to feel the pinch even though most of the university fees were not yet due.
Fees and accommodation expenses aside, even class assignments would steadily run up a daunting tab - and so some of his peers have even begun looking for part-time work to support themselves, he said.
Aqila (right), another arts and design student, has been lucky to have the support of her family in the wake of the sudden crisis.
"My family said keep on studying, there shouldn't be any problem - work hard and see how it goes," she said, adding that her family was from Rawang.
But the issue still worries the oldest of four siblings, who really hopes she will be able to stay on in Unisel to see her studies through.
"You can't really call the fees cheap, and my family isn't really rich - money for spending doesn't add up to much, but it isn't enough," she lamented.
'Most people need the loans'
For mass communications student Kabil, however, the situation seems like a recurring bad dream.
Kabil (right), 19, was previously studying for his diploma at Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College when he first applied for PTPTN.
His application was approved, but he never saw the money coming through for some unknown reasons.
Eventually, he decided to switch courses and move to Unisel after much trouble convincing his parents that he would be able to get his PTPTN application approved after transferring.
Luck was not on his side - he began in Unisel this April only to find shortly afterwards that PTPTN had decided to freeze loans to Unisel students.
"It was a big shock. The news was in the papers this morning, and we couldn't concentrate in class," he said, describing how nothing else was on their minds since the issue broke.
The youngest of three siblings, Kabil is hopeful that the situation will be resolved, but acknowledges the real possibility that some students may have to quit their studies should PTPTN be adamant in refusing loans to them.
"In my batch, you can only count a few that can continue studies without loans," he sighed.
'We promise to pay back'
Kabil describes how his peers had put their applications into place - settling bank accounts, liaising with the National Education Savings Scheme - only to find themselves unable to see Unisel on PTPTN's list of universities.
For Kabil, repaying loans would not be an issue - if he were only given the opportunity to do so.
"We don't mind paying, we just need money right now to continue studies and after getting a job, we can pay back," he explained.
Now, he worries that by the time PTPTN revises its decision, it may take too long to process the applications and bank money into students' accounts in time for their next semester.
For now, with his family's money spent on his older siblings and his father - the sole breadwinner - planning to retire soon, he can only pray that the problem is sorted out.
Malaysiakini had reported on Tuesday that students enrolling at the Selangor government-owned university in April found that they could not apply for PTPTN loans due to a "temporary freeze".
This has sparked an outcry among Pakatan Rakyat leaders and the Selangor government.
Following that, Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin (left), through his Twitter, admonishedopposition leader Anwar Ibrahim'scall to students who had taken loans with PTPTN not to make repayments.
The minister also argued that if students cannot pay fees in lieu of the loans, then Selangor's Unisel should waive the fees and fulfill Pakatan's free education proposal.
However, Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim yesterday announced that Unisel would liquidate some of its assets in order to assist those students who will be affected by the loan freeze.
Several students interviewed by Malaysiakini - many of whom spoke on condition of anonymity - said some of their peers have already decided to leave the institution, with more on the way out if PTPTN does not allow them to apply for the study loans.
Edy (left), an 18-year-old from Terengganu, said he was aware of two students having already left Unisel after failing to get the education loan.The arts and design student is himself worried about his higher education prospects. With his two teacher parents having to provide for his seven younger siblings, every ringgit counts.
"I'm thinking of moving to another institution, because if we cannot get loans here, it will be difficult for me," he said, expressing hope that PTPTN would soon reverse its decision.
Bob, 18, also faces a similar situation. The oldest of six siblings, the mass communication student is also troubled by the university's unprecedented shut-out from PTPTN.
"We hope that PTPTN will just give us the loans," he said, explaining that with his mother working at a pre-school and his father doing maintenance work, supporting his studies would be near impossible.
Some finding part-time work
He too has heard of two or three students dropping out of Unisel after failing to apply for the loan, and may follow suit if the situation came down to it.
"If I cannot get PTPTN, I may quit," he said. But he added that he would wait for new developments before considering his options.
He related how students had already begun to feel the pinch even though most of the university fees were not yet due.
Fees and accommodation expenses aside, even class assignments would steadily run up a daunting tab - and so some of his peers have even begun looking for part-time work to support themselves, he said.
Aqila (right), another arts and design student, has been lucky to have the support of her family in the wake of the sudden crisis."My family said keep on studying, there shouldn't be any problem - work hard and see how it goes," she said, adding that her family was from Rawang.
But the issue still worries the oldest of four siblings, who really hopes she will be able to stay on in Unisel to see her studies through.
"You can't really call the fees cheap, and my family isn't really rich - money for spending doesn't add up to much, but it isn't enough," she lamented.
'Most people need the loans'
For mass communications student Kabil, however, the situation seems like a recurring bad dream.
Kabil (right), 19, was previously studying for his diploma at Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College when he first applied for PTPTN.His application was approved, but he never saw the money coming through for some unknown reasons.
Eventually, he decided to switch courses and move to Unisel after much trouble convincing his parents that he would be able to get his PTPTN application approved after transferring.
Luck was not on his side - he began in Unisel this April only to find shortly afterwards that PTPTN had decided to freeze loans to Unisel students.
"It was a big shock. The news was in the papers this morning, and we couldn't concentrate in class," he said, describing how nothing else was on their minds since the issue broke.
The youngest of three siblings, Kabil is hopeful that the situation will be resolved, but acknowledges the real possibility that some students may have to quit their studies should PTPTN be adamant in refusing loans to them.
"In my batch, you can only count a few that can continue studies without loans," he sighed.
'We promise to pay back'
Kabil describes how his peers had put their applications into place - settling bank accounts, liaising with the National Education Savings Scheme - only to find themselves unable to see Unisel on PTPTN's list of universities.
For Kabil, repaying loans would not be an issue - if he were only given the opportunity to do so.
"We don't mind paying, we just need money right now to continue studies and after getting a job, we can pay back," he explained.
Now, he worries that by the time PTPTN revises its decision, it may take too long to process the applications and bank money into students' accounts in time for their next semester.
For now, with his family's money spent on his older siblings and his father - the sole breadwinner - planning to retire soon, he can only pray that the problem is sorted out.
Malaysiakini had reported on Tuesday that students enrolling at the Selangor government-owned university in April found that they could not apply for PTPTN loans due to a "temporary freeze".
This has sparked an outcry among Pakatan Rakyat leaders and the Selangor government.Following that, Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin (left), through his Twitter, admonishedopposition leader Anwar Ibrahim'scall to students who had taken loans with PTPTN not to make repayments.
The minister also argued that if students cannot pay fees in lieu of the loans, then Selangor's Unisel should waive the fees and fulfill Pakatan's free education proposal.
However, Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim yesterday announced that Unisel would liquidate some of its assets in order to assist those students who will be affected by the loan freeze.
The above interviews were done hours before Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's announcement.
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