Militant recruitment of students monitored

16/06/2010

GEORGE TOWN: The Inspector-General of Police will meet vice-chancellors of public and private universities to curb any rise in extremism among students in higher education institutions.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he was informed that the IGP would give a detailed briefing to the vice-chancellors during the meeting, which is expected to be held soon.

“This is a matter that cannot be treated lightly. I am sure the police has sufficient information and evidence on the movement of this group among students … and we don’t want this to affect national security,” he said after opening a four-day St George’s Girls School International Students Conference at Universiti Sains Malaysia yesterday.

Muhyiddin was commenting on a news report in a Malay daily yesterday which reported that foreign members of the militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) were on a recruitment drive of Malaysian students.

In Johor Baru, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the ministry was seriously looking into the matter as no students should be involved with terrorist groups.

“Serious action will be taken against any students who are involved. It is first and foremost in violation of the University Act, which prohibits students from joining in illegal activities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the Home Ministry had confirmed the presence of Islamic and non-Islamic militant groups as well as those promoting the political ideology of their country of origin.

Its minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said intelligence work found that these groups were also using Malaysia for their financial transactions and exchange of information.

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Study aid to continue

16/06/2010

KUALA LUMPUR: Scholarships given to students for overseas studies will focus more at the post-graduate level, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“It will be done gradually so that we can build up institutions of high standards and ranking in this country.

“But at the same time, the critical courses will continue for a while until we build up our local capacity,” said the Prime Minister at a press conference after meeting Islamic religious and fardhu ain class teachers here yesterday.

Najib was commenting on calls for the Government to continue awarding scholarships to top scorers to further their studies abroad.

In a related development, MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong urged the Public Service Department to maintain the overseas scholarships.

“We understand the Govern ment cannot afford to send all bright students overseas, but we hope the same number of scholarships will be retained for those who truly deserve help,” said the Deputy Education Minister.

Dr Wee also asked whether the Mara scholarship programme for bumiputra students would be scrapped together with the PSD scholarships.

“If the Government is only doing away with the PSD scholarships but retain the Mara scholarships, this will not be in line with the 1Malaysia concept that the Government is promoting,” he said.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said that while scholarships to study overseas were costly, it was an investment that produced highly qualified human capital.

He added that it was difficult for the people to accept the decision when the Government was willing to spend RM800mil on a new Parliament building, besides the escalating cost in constructing the new Istana Negara which was expected to reach RM800mil.

Khairy said a more stringent and transparent selection process would ensure only deserving ones were given scholarships.

Separately, MIC vice-president Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said 361 Indian students were given PSD scholarships this year.

Of the figure, 161 students were offered scholarships for the overseas programmes, an increase of 25 students from the earlier figure of 136 as announced recently, he said in a statement.

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S’gor govt offers student loans at its higher learning institutions

16/06/2010

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is offering education loans to students in the state to further their studies to degree level at institutions of higher learning owned by it.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the offer was made to SPM holders with at least 5As to study at Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel) and Kolej Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (Kuis).

“Loans up to RM25,000 per person are offered to those eligible for selected courses.

“The loan will be automatically converted to scholarship if the student gets a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.75 and above,” he told reporters after chairing the weekly state executive council meeting here Wednesday.

The loan offer was made under the State Secretary Loan Scheme and further information could be obtained from the state government’s website from Thursday, he added.

Priority would be given to those born in Selangor and with outstanding SPM results.

Asked whether the offer was made to overcome the problem of lack of students at Unisel, Khalid said it had nothing to do with the issue because the state government was also offering loans for courses at Kuis.

He also said that the state government would hold a Selangor Knowledge Day on June 26 which would kick off with the launch of the Perdana Reading Movement at Tasik Shah Alam, aimed at carving a place in the Malaysia Book of Records as The Greatest Outdoor Reading Event in Malaysia.

All the people of all ages from Selangor were invited to join the programme from 10am to 11am by bringing along their own reading materials to read as a family, he said. – Bernama

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