Insensitive debate over PTPTN debts owed by 15 UPSI students who perished in bus crash

Focus Malaysia

12-06-2025

AN allegedly mentally unstable school teacher in Perak has apparently come under fire for accusing the 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who perished in the chartered bus crash on Monday (June 9) as 'having died a disgraceful death' given they have yet to settle their National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan.
This follows revelation by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir that a total of 400,000 PTPTN loan recipients have never made a single repayment with the outstanding amount having reached RM5 bil which involved borrowers who had completed their studies over a decade ago.
'The 15 UPSI students who died in the chartered bus accident aren't devout Muslims for they departed without having settled their PTPTN debts,' chastised the allegedly mentally unstable school teacher.
His insensitivity to the plight of the deceased families who are still mourning over the loss of their loved ones has earned the wrath of former Sekolah Kebnagsaan (1) Gombak mathematics teacher Mohd Fadli Mohamed Salleh who exposed such despicable act.
Fadhli who went viral in October 2022 for criticising weaknesses in the school syllabus, including primary school modules for mathematics, had called on the Education Ministry to investigate the teacher's 'seriously notorious' mental state.
'I'm too lazy to viral this idiot but I'm making an exception this time because he's a teacher!' penned Fadhli who is now an influencer and social activist from the Dana Kita Welfare Organisation after his early retirement from teaching on Feb 6, 2024 in a Facebook (FB) post.
'The minister Fadhlina Sidek can send an officer to investigate this teacher. He has been making a lot of fuss (about the PTPTN loan and death of the UPSI students) on his FB wall.
'To the family of the deceased, just file a SISPAA (Public Complaints Management System) report. I don't know how he teaches in school if he behaves in such a manner. Haishh. 🤬'
While many netizens were offended by the insensitive action of the so-called mentally unstable teacher – apparently from schizophrenia – one commenter to a FB post on the matter by Astro Gempak took exception by justifying that there is validity in the claims of made by him.
'Because most of the teachers nowadays are not dedicated to teach; they only apply for teaching because they feel this is one secure job,' she justified, probably oblivious of the teacher's state of mind.
Although there were at least three who agreed with her, most netizens – seemingly fellow teachers – ticked off the commenter for masking a sweeping statement.
This was when one commenter shared that PTPTN borrowers are covered by insurance in the event of death/permanent disability.
'There is also a death benefit of RM1,500 (2017 data). The (mentally unsound) teacher should have known,' she revealed.
'Above all else, most of these UPSI students obtain full scholarships, hence not all are PTPTN borrowers.'. – June 12, 2025
Post-script: It was revealed in another Fb posting that the so-called mentally unstable teacher has apologised for his insensitivity.
Also, Higher Education Minister Zambry has revealed that of the 15 UPSI students who died in the Gerik chartered bus accident, 13 were identified as PTPTN borrowers.
All the 13 students shall receive the benefit of settling their entire loan debt through the PTPTN Education Loan Group Takaful Protection Scheme.
Additionally, the next-of-kin of the 13 students will also receive a death benefit of RM1,500.00 each.