Anti-Malaysian sentiment puts universities at risk<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni and Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung\/Makassar<\/p>\n
Staff at Bandung's Padjadjaran University are worried that anti-
\nMalaysian sentiment could cause Malaysian students to leave the
\ncountry, depriving the institution of much-needed revenue.<\/p>\n
Spokesman Hadi Suprapto Arifin said on Thursday there were 350
\nstudents from Malaysia studying medicine and dentistry at
\nPajadjaran.<\/p>\n
The students were charged an average of US$8,000 per year each
\nand contributed a total of US$2.8 million a year to university
\nrevenue in study fees, Hadi said.<\/p>\n
"We hope that the diplomatic row between Indonesia and
\nMalaysia is settled through diplomatic channels and not through
\nwar. If the war happens, there is too much at stake, including
\nthe revenue that our university earns hosting the students," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Local businesses would also be hurt by any exodus, as
\nMalaysian students generally spent between US$2,000 and US$3,000
\na year each in living costs, he said.<\/p>\n
Malaysians have been studying at the university since the
\n1960s. High demand in recent years has led Padjadjaran staff to
\nestablish separate classes for international students, where all
\nthe learning is conducted in English.<\/p>\n
A diplomatic row between Indonesia and Malaysia about the
\nAmbalat Block undersea oil field has caused nationwide protests
\nin recent weeks.<\/p>\n
However, the protests had not greatly affected the Malaysian
\nstudents at the university yet, Hadi said.<\/p>\n
Relationships between Padjadjaran and Malaysia were still good
\nand the university would take part in an education expo there on
\nMarch 29, he said.<\/p>\n
There are currently about 6,000 Malaysian students studying
\nin learning institutes across Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In South Sulawesi, Hasanuddin University deputy dean of
\nmedicine Wardihan said that several Malaysian students had come
\nto him following the anti-Malaysian protests in the province.
\nThey had asked him about a range of issues, including security
\nand how to deal with the media. The students told him they still
\nfelt safe, although they admitted the anti-Malaysian protests had
\ndisturbed them, Wardihan said.<\/p>\n
If the protests continued, the students would eventually leave
\nthe country, which would constitute a great loss to the nation,
\nWardihan said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian universities would not only suffer from financial
\nlosses, they would also lose future business, he said.<\/p>\n
"It is not easy to build trust (in education institutions).
\n"We can visit Malaysia many times to promote our university, but
\nif people lose their trust in us, these promotional efforts will
\nbe useless," he said.<\/p>\n
One hundred and fifty-two Malaysian students study at the
\nuniversity.<\/p>",
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