Malaysia has been proactive in attracting international students to study in local public and private institutions of higher learning. - NSTP file pic
Malaysia has been proactive in attracting international students to study in local public and private institutions of higher learning. - NSTP file pic

LETTERS: I refer to a recent article in the local media titled "Where are our visas, passports, foreign students ask IIUM (International Islamic University Malaysia)?"

The students were seeking an explanation from the university on why it has been withholding their passports for many months, as this was affecting their right to travel to back their country and be with their families.

Malaysia has been proactive in attracting international students to study in local public and private institutions of higher learning.

So, it is disappointing that some officers in local institutions are not taking the international students' complaints seriously.

Worse still, some are threatening them with disciplinary action including dismissal from the institution.

The university management must take this matter seriously as international students have every right to have their travel documents returned as soon as the purpose for which it was retained is fulfilled.

They should not hold their passports for a prolonged period without informing the students of the reasons for the delay.

Further, these students deserve decent treatment with respect to their complaints and not be threatened with disciplinary action.

An internal grievance channel for students to lodge complaints must be established and every complaint must be attended to, with the complainant being informed of the remedial actions within a reasonable period of time. This grievance channel must be made known to the students.

The withholding of their passports for a prolonged period without any valid basis may give rise to legal challenges and create diplomatic tensions with other countries.

These actions would not sit well on the country's noble vision of becoming an international, or at least, a regional educational hub.

PROFESSOR DATUK SERI DR ASHGAR ALI ALI MOHAMED

International Islamic University Malaysia


The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times