Four private higher learning institutions (IPTS) have been suspended from accepting new international students, Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh announced today.
The decision was made following reports of foreign workers coming into Malaysia to work on student visas to the point that some colleges in the country were being referred to as 'visa colleges'.
Idris said they have checked all private universities and colleges and subsequently suspended four of them from accepting new international students.
"That’s why we go down to the private higher learning institutions so we can check if they (the students on visas) are in school or not. That’s why we have suspended four IPTS," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya.
An officer from the ministry later said they were not allowed to reveal the names of the universities and colleges concerned.
Idris said many of the foreign workers coming into Malaysia on student visas came from language centres.
He also pointed out that with the new system of student cards launched last year, it was easier for the ministry to identify anyone with a student visa but who was not actually a student.
"Many of them come through language centres where (they're given a visa duration of) three months.
"We couldn't control them before because they did not have student cards.
"Now that they have the student cards that will limit them to three months so when they are caught, we'll know they have overstayed," he said.
Idris also pointed out that only 0.075 percent of international students get involved in crime in Malaysia.
He also clarified that some student visas allow the students to work in the same field as what they are studying.
New student visa system
Idris also announced that his ministry will be improving the process of applying, processing and renewing of student visas with a new system to be put in place on Jan 1, 2016.
The application process can then be done online by students without having to go through the universities.
This online process will be handled by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), which will work with the immigration department and the Home Ministry to ensure they do not miss any security threats.
EMGS will also have stringent medical requirements.
Under the new system, international students will also no longer have to renew their visas every year which previously led to problems of overstaying.
Instead they will be subjected to an annual verification process to confirm their academic performance.
International students who qualify can also be issued a social visit pass for up to 12 months under the new system as opposed to three months currently.
Idris said the ministry was confident the news system will streamline and improve the visa application process for international students. -Mkini
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