NST Online: Topnews

Posted: 07 Nov 2011 09:27 AM PST

2011/11/08
By Punitha Kumar
punithak@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Laziness and forgetfulness.

These were among the lame excuses used by several National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan defaulters when questioned why they had dodged repayments when the New Straits Times did a mini survey yesterday.

An executive with a private firm, who wished to be known only as Kayla, said she did not repay her RM3,000 loan since the 2005 application because she had forgotten all about it.

"I had applied for a Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship but due to a late reply from the PSD, PTPTN had already banked-in money for my first semester." She said her studies were later fully funded by the scholarship and the PTPTN loan was forgotten.

"Late last year, PTPTN sent a legal notice to my old address informing me to appear in court but I was unaware of it." The 24-year-old added she was now blacklisted and not allowed to leave the country without repaying the loan.

Another defaulter, who wished to be known only as Malik, said he stopped repaying the loan after a career change.

"I just got lazy as my particulars had changed and there are too many forms to fill for a new address," said the 27-year-old advertising agent.

Malik said he had only paid less than RM500 of his RM28,000 loan.

Private school teacher Veronica Anthony said loan defaulters were putting graduates who were repaying their loans in a bad light.

"I am paying more than RM160 each month and wish to clear my RM48,000 loan as soon as possible." She said PTPTN authorities should provide more information on their website on how to make repayments as many graduates were clueless.

Polymer engineer Agilan Suparmaniam agreed that many defaulters did not know the proper channels to repay their loans.

"I believe every graduate should be able to repay a minimum of RM80 each month, which I am currently paying to PTPTN." Agilan added it was his fifth month in repaying his RM28,000 loan.

PTPTN chairman Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said said he was compiling data and would hold a press conference on the matter today.

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Mufti: Don't ignore issues of morality

Posted: 07 Nov 2011 09:26 AM PST

2011/11/07
By Teresa Yong
teresay@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria said homosexuality is against not only Islam, but also other religions such as Christianity and Buddhism.

"Human rights are human rights, but the morality issues cannot be ignored," he said.

"Allah has given humans sexual desire to procreate and we are bound by rules and regulations, just like we are given hands and legs to do good both to ourselves and mankind," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Harussani said he believed that natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes now happening around the world "are trials by God".

He was commenting on the annual sexuality rights festival, Seksualiti Merdeka. The festival, which celebrates the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, has been held since 2008.

This year's event, themed "Queer Without Fear", was scheduled to be held from Nov 9 to 13. However, it was cancelled after police issued an outright ban on Thursday.

Many groups, individuals and religious organisations had voiced their opposition to the event, with two police reports lodged in the city against the organisers.

The public had also been advised not to attend any activity or event relating to the event to avoid arrest.

Other religious leaders stand united in their stance that homosexual acts are violations against divine and natural law.

Catholic Archdiocesan Pastoral Institute director Reverend Dr Clarence Devadass said the Catholic Church teaches that such sexual acts are wrong.

Reverend Philip Tan, provincial head of the Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord, Malaysia, echoed similar views.

"Of course, our Catholic teaching does not condone such homosexual practices, but we still extend our pastoral care to this community.

"We accept them and there are priests and nuns who counsel them on an individual basis when they choose to confide."

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Isnin, 7 November 2011

NST Online: Topnews

NST Online: Topnews

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