When Ptptn Is Taken For A Ride

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“What are you doing now?” I asked my niece after her SPM some time ago
“I am studying business,” she replied
Her reply surprised me
“Since when were you interested in business?” I asked, curious
She laughed
“No, seriously, why business?” I insisted to know
She agitated for a while before answering
“It’s the easiest.”“Ah. Of course.”One thing about my niece that everyone in the family knows about, is that she isn’t a good student. She has never been interested in school and her grades have never been good throughout her primary and secondary education
Once her parents enrolled her in a tuition centre hoping that would assist her learning – but she could never wake up from her afternoon naps to attend the tuition classes. Studies were never her priorities
“Are you planning to work?” I asked my niece
She laughed again
“Or are you planning to get married as soon as you finish your studies and start making babies just like your sister?”I was irritated with her constant laughing
“I don’t know. Let’s see.”About two years after we had the above conversation, I learnt that my niece had finally completed her studies. I was somewhat proud of her especially because she has a reputation of not finishing anything she starts
“Congratulations!” I wished her when I rang her up
“Thank you Cinma,” she replied after yawning. (‘Cinma’ means ‘little mother’ or aunty in Tamil)“You sound tired, what have you been up to these days?” I asked
“Bapak has been nagging me to find a job, so I got myself a job in Tesco. There is a newly opened branch near to home.”“Excellent! What will you be working as?”“Cashier.”“Wait. You just got yourself a business diploma, and you are working as a cashier at Tesco?” I was dumbfounded
“Come on Cinma, it’s not easy to find jobs these days you know?” my niece defended herself
Okay, she does have a point. And by right I should be glad that she isn’t lazing at home like many youngsters who are too picky about the jobs they apply for
“I am glad you have a job. Well done,” I said, quite impressed with her development. “So when do you start?”My niece yawned again
“I started today, Cinma.”Ah, no wonder she sounds so tired, I thought
“It’s just 4pm now. How come you are at home if you are working today?” I asked, intrigued
“I went to work this morning but there weren’t many customers. And I got bored waiting for the customers at the cashier counter. So I came home during lunch break and took a nap,” she explained
I burst out laughing
“Seriously? It’s 4pm now! Should you not go back to work?”“I don’t feel like it,” she replied, short
“What do you mean you don’t feel like it? It’s your job, you have to show some responsibility. If your supervisor finds out, you will be in a lot of trouble!” I warned her
She laughed
“He has already called asking where I am.”“And?”“I told him I am home.”“And?”“I told him there aren’t many customers anyway, so I will just come back tomorrow.”“Oh God. And what did he say?”“He said if I don’t go back to work today, I don’t have to come anymore.”“Are you planning to go back to work any time today?” I asked
“No. I don’t think I want to work there anymore.”“But you haven’t even worked for one day
“You don’t understand, Cinma. I don’t think they should force people to come to work when there are not enough customers. They are wasting people’s time.”Oh God. I felt like knocking my head on the nearest wall when I heard her explanation
Another year has passed since that day. Today, my niece is married and six months pregnant. She is unemployed and has no plans to seek employment. Her half day work at Tesco was the only job she ever had
My niece is the third sibling in her family to study with a PTPTN loan. All three of them were never interested in studies but ended up taking up diplomas and degrees at private institutes right after SPM simply because the option was made available to them. And none of them served their PTPTN loans
Their youngest brother who also never showed any interest in his studies throughout his primary and secondary education is currently in a private college, taking up a business diploma under a PTPTN loan. I bet he too will not give a rat’s ass about serving his PTPTN loan when the time comes
I suppose that’s what happens when you offer loans to people with no credibility. They take you for a ride
FA ABDUL is a passionate storyteller, a media trainer, an aspiring playwright, a director, a struggling producer, a photographer, an expert Facebooker, a lazy blogger, a part-time queen and a full-time vainpot. - Mkini

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