Civil servants must not be on blacklist for defaulting on study loans

Berita Harian

SEREMBAN: Civil servants have to make a declaration that they are not on the blacklist for defaulting on government study loans before they can be considered for promotions.

This includes those being considered to fill up higher positions on an acting basis.

Public Service director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam said the Public Service Promotions Board decided on this during a meeting on July 21.

“From now on, this will be compulsory,” he said.

“If they are found to have lied, action will be taken under regulation 4 (f) and (g) of the General Orders (Conduct and Discipline) 1993,” he added.

Other conditions to be considered for promotions are that the individual must have declared his income, not been investigated by the Anti-Corruption Agency and is not facing any disciplinary action.

Ismail said the study loans would include those from the PSD, National Higher Education Fund, Mara, Johor Education Foundation, Terengganu Foundation, Telekom Foundation, Selangor Islamic Affairs Council, Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation (Sarawak), Sultan Iskandar Foundation (Johor) and the Employees Provident Fund.

It is learnt that defaulters owed the Government more than RM1bil in unpaid loans.

The Higher Education Ministry, with the help of the National Registration Department, has identified 40,573 borrowers who are working in government agencies or government-linked companies, who had taken loans from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).

As of March, 438,775 borrowers still owed the PTPTN RM920mil.