97,866 Mara borrowers blacklisted, says deputy minister

 

The blacklisting is applicable within Mara’s management and does not involve other agencies and ecosystems, according to deputy rural and regional development minister Rubiah Wang.

KUALA LUMPUR: 

A total of 97,866, or 49% of 197,348 active borrowers have been blacklisted by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).

Deputy rural and regional development minister Rubiah Wang said the move was imposed on borrowers who have not paid their loans for three months or more and is only applicable within Mara’s management without involving other agencies and ecosystems.

“For students applying for Mara assistance, the process is relatively easy, even if the parents are blacklisted, negotiations can be carried out. The amount and instalments can be reduced as long as payment is made.

“To ensure student loans are approved, parents don’t have to pay the full amount; they just have to settle the arrears. What is important is that the financing process can be implemented more effectively,” she said during a Q&A session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

She was responding to a supplementary question from Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu), who asked about the number of Mara borrowers who have been blacklisted and Mara’s plans to ease conditions for students whose parents have been blacklisted.

Responding to Jalaluddin’s initial question regarding the current number of Mara-sponsored students within and outside the country, Rubiah said 96,857 students currently receive Mara education loans domestically and internationally.

The number includes 90,919 students in the country and 5,938 students abroad.

She said in 2023, Mara achieved a 100% loan repayment collection amounting to RM300 million, while up to the third quarter of this year, the collection rate had reached 70% of the RM400 million target.

In response to a supplementary question from Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai) on the number of Mara loan recipients who were granted exemption from repaying their loans, Rubiah said no Mara borrower is exempt from repayment.

“There is no concept of scholarships. However, the repayment rate is reduced based on their CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average). Some pay only 50%, 30%, or a minimum of 10% of the loan amount, but there is no scenario where 100% is waived. Our concept is loans,” she said. - FMT