Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed the Malaysian government’s commitment to ensuring greater access to higher education by prioritising financial support for students from low-income families through PTPTN assistance. The announcement was made during the Prime Minister’s appearance on Temu Anwar at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) on 4 February 2026.
Under the revised approach, the government will focus first on students from low-income families, ensuring that those who face the greatest financial barriers can pursue tertiary education without overwhelming debt. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim highlighted that education support should be accessible to those who need it most, and that the shift in PTPTN policy reflects this principle of fairness and inclusivity.
“We saw outstanding PTPTN loans amounting to about RM10 billion, so we decided last year to provide free higher education for the poorest students first,” Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, noting that the initiative began with support for 5,000 students and was later expanded to include 10,000 beneficiaries.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also mentioned ongoing discussions with the Finance Ministry to further enhance assistance for students from underprivileged backgrounds. While acknowledging concerns about PTPTN loan exemptions for first-class graduates, including those from private universities, Prime Minister confirmed that incentives for high achievers are still under consideration and will be introduced gradually as the policy develops.
This policy shift builds on earlier Budget 2026 measures that convert PTPTN loans for poor and hardcore poor students into full scholarships, part of wider efforts to break financial barriers to post-secondary education. By prioritising the neediest students, the government aims to tackle socioeconomic inequalities and expand opportunities for Malaysians to obtain tertiary credentials without the burden of debt.
Source: FMT
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