The march, which started at Masjid Jamek, went past the Sogo Shopping Centre, going against traffic and causing traffic to come to a standstill.
They headed towards the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) building on Jalan Yap Kwan Seng.
The 300 university students were dressed in black, carrying banners which read “Tuntut Janji PTPTN” (“Fulfil PTPTN promise”).
They were also heard chanting “Tolak Dr Maszlee Malik” (“Reject Dr Maszlee Malik”), referring to the education minister.
Yazid Khairul Azman, representing Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam (Gamis), which organised the march, said the students demanded that the government fulfil its promises.
He said the government should help students, especially those who earned low wages.
“Choosing PH to govern is of no use if it fails to keep its promises. It is Malaysians’ responsibility to throw them out of Putrajaya. Let this be a warning to them.”
In the PH manifesto, it was stated that PTPTN borrowers with monthly incomes lower than RM4,000 would be offered a repayment deferment.
This is the second march Gamis has organised recently.
On Nov 14, about 20 students from various local universities marched from Universiti Malaya to the Parliament building in protest.
Gamis president Muhammad Faizzuddin Mohd Zai told reporters they were disappointed about not being able to meet Maszlee as they were stopped at the gates by police.
He showed a breakdown of the cost of living for fresh graduates earning RM1,000, saying such individuals could be RM400 in debt every month.
PTPTN chairman Wan Saiful Wan Jan announced recently that the fund could not allow borrowers to begin servicing their loans only after their salary hits RM4,000 a month, as stated in Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto.
He said they had no choice as the fund was saddled with some RM40 billion in debts from defaulters. If they proceeded with the plan, he said, future students would not be able to take up loans.
In Budget 2019, tabled on Nov 2, the government announced a scheduled repayment scheme of between 2% and 15% of the borrower’s monthly income, applicable to those earning more than RM1,000 each month.
Yazid also added that if Malaysians, including the student population, were able to topple the Barisan Nasional government during GE14, they would be able to do the same with PH in the next general election.