Malaysians React: Rohingya Refugees Can Enrol In IIUM Following Qatari Help
IIUM was selected for this as they have the reputation and experience needed for the project.
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Some Malaysians on social media feel that help should first be extended to its own people amid the recent announcement made by the Higher Education Ministry that Rohingya refugees in Malaysia will soon be able to pursue their tertiary studies at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), made possible by the Qatar Fund for Development’s donation of RM231 million.
The Rohingya people are a stateless ethnic group mainly made up of Muslims, many of whom were forced to flee Rakhine, Myanmar, due to genocide in 2017.
As previously reported by the New Straits Times, recently there was a working visit by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) to Doha, Qatar.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin served as the delegation’s leader, and was joined by Zamshari Shaharan, the Malaysian ambassador to Qatar.
Discussions with executives from three educational foundations in the middle eastern nation took place during the two-day visit, according to Khaled.
During the visit, MoHE discussed a variety of topics, including educational sponsorships for refugees and students from nations experiencing turmoil.
Yesterday’s announcement by MoHE adviser Morshidi Sirat noted that IIUM was selected as they have the reputation and experience needed for the project as reported by Malaysiakini.
This initiative, despite not involving taxpayers’ funds, did not sit well with some Malaysians.
Apahal pendatang pula dapat hak belajar ni?
— SchwaRze (@Foulken23) June 19, 2023
Focus on local student la?!
Bila nak maju masyarakat Malaysia jika berterusan membantu orang Rohingnya yang tiada hak kerakyatan?!
I'm speechless, the local Malaysian also having difficulty to enroll into local U.
— Richardkam (@Richardkam11) June 19, 2023
Malaysians pun susah nak masuk IIUM. Nak masuk IIUM Academy yang bayar sendiri pun susah. Requirement yang strict utk pelajar tempatan. Sedangkan utk international student / yg ambik IGCSE requirement jauh lebih rendah. Pelik. @OfficialIIUM @STADD_IIUM
— LadyM (@PuteriMinang) June 19, 2023
Ongoing effort
This isn’t the first time IIUM has extended a helping hand to the displaced Rohingyas.
In 2020, IIUM partnered with the International Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (IESCO) in a sponsorship project to benefit some 50 Rohingya students.
With IIUM’s main campus being in Gombak, the project aimed to lay another foundation for unfortunate immigrants, mainly the Rohingya community in the area.
Qatar and IIUM go way back
The relationship between Qatar and IIUM has many layers to it. Recently, boxes with necessary food aid were sent to IIUM staff members in need by Qatar Charity, a non-governmental organisation that works on humanitarian and development issues.
The boxes contained 10kg of rice, cooking oil, flour, sugar, and salt. Also included were instant noodles, malt drinks, tea/coffee bags, condensed milk, soy sauce, chili sauce, canned sardines, canned beef/chicken curry and dates, according to IIUM website.
Not only this, but just two years ago, according to the IIUM website, there was a debate championship which was done in collaboration between IIUM and the QatarDebate.
The first edition of the Asian Arabic Debating Championship in Kuala Lumpur saw the participation of 30 teams representing 20 Arab and Asian countries.
This is not the first time Malaysians have reacted badly to foreigners receiving aid.
As reported by Malay Mail, in 2019 Malaysians had to be told not to be envious or politicize scholarships provided by local colleges to students from Palestine as they were not using public funds.
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