Foreign students to face tougher immigration regulations

(photo courtesy of themalaymailonline.com)

Two students at the Al-Madinah International University (MEDIU) in Shah Alam were recently apprehended on suspicion of alleged terrorist activities. They were inclusive of the total of seven men arrested between 3rd November and 16th December on counts of similar activities.

Although the two students have now been expelled by MEDIU, the various ministries responsible for foreign students entering the country, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) and the Immigration Department believe in the need of more thorough protocols concerning foreign students in Malaysia. Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, the Higher Education Minister expanded on this in terms of preventing foreign students associated with militant groups such as Daish to be allowed into the country. At the Environmental Sustainability Programme with the Community titled "Water Treatment Using Mud Ball, he commented that, "MOHE does not issue visas to foreign students. The approval is done by the Home Ministry and the Immigration Department. It is done at EMGS (Education Malaysia Global Services) in the presence of Immigration officers.

"We will continue to work with both parties, including tightening the conditions for granting of visas to curb terrorist activities among foreign students in this country."

Moreover, Idris gave assurance of Malaysian students abroad are too being monitored in terms of association with militant group activities, the topic having become a cause of much concern due to recent internal and external events, saying, "We have not received any reports of the involvement of our overseas students in terrorist activities. MOHE will continue to monitor them assisted by MOHA and the Immigration Department."