PTPTN signs MOU to help borrowers find jobs

The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) today signed a memorandum of understanding with three agencies to help borrowers find jobs after completing their studies.

The agreement was made with the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM)), employment agency JobStreet.com Sdn Bhd and the Peninsular Malaysia Labour Department.

PTPTN chairperson Wan Saiful Wan Jan said that the difficulties in seeking employment faced by its borrowers was also a problem felt by the fund.

"PTPTN understands the issue faced by borrowers and it has decided to help address the issue with the cooperation of these agencies as a corporate social responsibility initiative to borrowers.

“It is out of PTPTN’s jurisdiction and function, but the CSR approach is taken as part of its efforts to help borrowers find jobs and facilitate their repayment 12 months after finishing their courses,” he added.

Wan Saiful (photo) was speaking to reporters after an exchange of MOU ceremony between PTPTN and its partners, which was witnessed by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The MOU will also help to improve loan repayment, he said, and is expected to benefit one million borrowers.

Wan Saiful said the move will also help earlier PTPTN borrowers, from 1997 onwards, if they are still unemployed or wish to seek better jobs.

It is hoped the collaboration would assist borrowers who could not repay or could afford to pay consistently to give them more avenues to find better employment, he said.

Meanwhile, NCCIM honourary treasurer Don Nazwin Don Najib said its MyJobs is a platform for employers to promote vacancies, as well as a channel for PTPTN borrowers to seek employment.

"The platform will assist in building a database on employment applications which could be used, especially by members of NCCIM, to meet their requirements of finding the candidates to fill vacant posts quickly.

“650,000 employers as members of NCCIM will provide job opportunities on contract or temporary employment training as short-term measures before participants find better permanent jobs,” he said.

Meanwhile, JobStreet.com country manager Gan Bock Herm said the company has 90,000 registered employers locally and abroad.

Apart from that, he said JobStreet.com has created a microsite for PTPTN to provide all functions of seeking employment.

“The additional service, which is provided free to PTPTN borrowers, covers various modules such as preparing for interviews, basic soft skills learning, writing resumes and many others,” he said,

He said the lessons would be made in a form of a short video and would be displayed randomly for trainingm and could be used by PTPTN borrowers, apart from providing information to JobStreet.com officers as well as industry employers to PTPTN borrowers.

- Bernama