KUCHING: The Higher Education Ministry is closely monitoring the safety of Malaysian students in France amid ongoing nationwide protests, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (pic).
He said the ministry is coordinating with the Foreign Ministry to ensure the well-being of the students, adding that all Malaysians in France have been advised to avoid protest hotspots.
“For now, their movements are primarily restricted, but we have received no reports of any students being injured,” he said after witnessing the presentation of full university status to i-CATS University College at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly yesterday.
Dr Zambry noted that contingency plans, including evacuation to the Malaysian Embassy in Paris, are in place should the situation deteriorate, though any decision to recall students depends on ground developments.
“What is important is to ensure that they do not remain in areas affected by the protests,” he said.
Separately, Zambry said i-CATS University College will be renamed following its elevation to a full university, with the new name to be announced by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
“The federal government supports efforts by states to establish higher educational institutions that align with their vision of human capital development.
“With i-CATS now functioning as a full university, we hope it will expand its courses.”
Zambry said Abang Johari was keen to see the introduction of courses that meet Sarawak’s human capital requirements, particularly in emerging technologies and engineering.
“We will coordinate with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency to grant the necessary approvals,” he said.
Zambry also said the ministry had approved Sarawak’s request for a law degree programme to be introduced at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.
In addition, he said a proposal by China’s Fudan University to set up a research centre in Sarawak had been approved in principle.
