Student Visa Halt To Curb Abuse

SERDANG (Malaysia), Feb 28 (Bernama) -- The decision of the Higher Education Ministry to stop issueing visas on arrival as well as social visit passes to foreign students is to curb abuse of the visa and pass. Its minister Mohamed Khaled clarified that the strict move of the ministry did not in anyway affect the entry of foreign students into the country. "As an education hub in the region which offers quality education at low cost, Malaysia would continue to be the main choice of genuine foreign students to further their education in the country," he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Perdana University and the Tropical Faculty of Mahidol University, Thailand, here Tuesday. Also present were the ministry's Secretary-General Ab Rahim Md Noor, chairman of Perdana University Board of Governors, Dr Mohan Swami, Perdana University vice-chancellor Maj Gen (Rtd) Dr R. Mohanadas and Mahidol University Tropical Faculty dean Prof Pratap Singhasivanon. According to Khaled, information technology such as the internet would facilitate foreign students in obtaining information on the courses offered in Malaysia while foreign students who had studied here could act as ambassadors to provide information to students in their own countries. The government recently decided to only issue student visas to foreign students after they have been offered places by public and private institutions of higher learning recognised by the ministry. On the MoU, Khaled said the ministry welcomed the cooperation between the two institutions considering the government was now focusing on research. "It is an area which we should develop to strengthen our knowledge as we are a country facing tropical diseases," he said. He urged other private institutions of higher learning to emulate Perdana University in introducing new courses and faculties with foreign universities to provide a variety of courses and make Malaysia as the main choice of foreign students. -- BERNAMA