Disgraceful when politicians teach borrowers to default

LETTER | I refer to Malaysiakini's report: 'Travel ban is betrayal' - Wan Saiful told to rethink PTPTN chief post.

Let's get our facts right! No one in his right mind is pressuring the unemployed and the defenceless to pay back loans immediately.

We are addressing a large group of individuals who are gainfully employed, having monies to go on holidays abroad but refusing to pay a loan taken, which is ‘part and parcel’ of a revolving fund that is utilised to help other students, many from the B40 groupings, get a leg-up in tertiary education on the understanding of repayment on employment.

It is a contractual agreement. The repayment scheme and quantum can always be discussed accordingly.

So, the country’s politicians and opportunists have got it wrong again, and being caught by Netizens, are shocked by their now embarrassing political posturing, post-GE14.

After all, universal and religious principles teach that debtors must repay their loans when employed.

And the law in Malaysia is such that it is left to the loan providers and financial institutions to use whatever avenues effective to ascertain that loans are repaid.

This is a duty of care.

And avenues that can be used are barring them from renewing their passports, driving licences, road tax and business licences and banning them from going abroad.

In the past, legal proceedings ending in bankruptcy was an option.

Having said that, only a shameless and one without any dignity, ethics or honour will drag Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to intervene in a matter that is clearly defined in the contractual terms, where a debtor must repay his loan.

Instead of teaching our future generations about integrity, accountability and good governance, are we teaching them to default because it is politically expedient?

This kind of political stand is very undignified and it goes against good governance, accountability and ethical behaviour.

Perhaps, some of those who claim to be reformers have forgotten what Benjamin Franklin said: “The second vice is lying; the first is running in debt.”

And woe to those who play the populist options and ruining our future generations as well as fast-tracking Malaysia to a nation where accountability, good governance, ethics, integrity and honour are extinct.

The writer is president, Consumers Association of Subang & Shah Alam, Selangor (Cassa).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.