PUTRAJAYA, Feb 12 — The National News Agency of Malaysia (Bernama) and the Malaysian Broadcasting Department (RTM) have been urged to carry out awareness campaigns among the people on the responsibility of repaying loans.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said repaying loans is the responsibility of all borrowers to ensure that lenders have continuous funds to be channelled to the next generation, thus ensuring the continuity of financial assistance to those in need.
"We need to increase efforts to plant awareness in the hearts of Malaysians, especially for those who can actually afford to pay.
"Therefore, it is appropriate for them to carry out their responsibility to repay debts, including with the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), Majlis Amanah Rakyat, and others.
"My hope is that before entering Ramadan, RTM and Bernama will examine and look at several aspects of the debt issue where maybe we need to think about the best way to remind all Malaysians," he said during the ministry's monthly assembly today.
Also present were Fahmi's deputy Teo Nie Ching, Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Broadcasting Department director-general Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman.
The minister added that he was informed by PTPTN of some 10,000 borrowers who persisted in not repaying their debts.
"The amount for each individual may not be large, but if collected, it is a rather significant amount and is needed to continue the PTPTN programme," he said.
Meanwhile, the Community Communication Department has been asked to collaborate with the National Academy to implement a large-scale programme to raise awareness among civil servants on the importance of having high cultural values that reflect the quality of services offered to the people.
In another development, Fahmi said the ministry is still studying the prospect of rationalisation of its agencies as suggested by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to address the issue of duplication of functions and save funds.
"We are careful (related to rationalization). This matter is being examined in detail by Datuk KSU (Fauzi) as well as agencies. It is not time yet for me to mention what the steps are, because it is still in the research stage currently," he said.
In his speech at the Finance Ministry's monthly assembly in Putrajaya this morning, Anwar said that a proposal to standardise several government agencies to address the issue of overlapping functions would be tabled at the Cabinet meeting in the near future.
— Bernama
