Malaysian students want longer visas

Malaysian students want longer visas

BANDUNG: Malaysians find it difficult to study in Indonesia as
they are issued only 12-month student visas, an overseas student
service foundation executive says.

Firdaus Ali, who runs the Widia Humaniora foundation, said
around 2,100 Malaysian students had to renew their visas every
year. He suggested that the Indonesian government issue them
student visas for the duration of their studies.

"Many Malaysians are interested in studying here, which means
extra revenue for Indonesia," Firdaus said on Wednesday, adding
that some 27,000 Indonesians were studying in Malaysia.

Such immigration hassles await 22 Malaysians who have won
scholarships to study at Padjadjaran University's School of
Medicine this academic year.

Taslim Sarbini, the education attache at the Malaysian
Embassy, said on Wednesday the students would serve at Indonesian
hospitals or clinics for 10 years after graduation. -- JP