Senate: 565 international students misused student passes

A total of 565 international students in local universities were found to have violated regulations and misused their student passes so far.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching said Nigerian students recorded the highest number at 159.

"This is followed by 115 Chinese students, Indonesians (29), Iranians (17), 14 each from Bangladesh and India, Vietnam (13) and 204 students from other countries," she told the Dewan Negara today.

She said this in response to a question from Senator Datuk Adam Abdul Hamid, who wanted to know the total number of international students who violated regulations and misused their student passes here.

Yap said the ministry viewed the issue of student pass abuse as serious and would indefinitely monitor the situation with help from the Royal Malaysian Police and Immigration Department.

"Besides that, the police and immigration can take immediate action on any university found to be negligent in managing and monitoring international students registered at the university," she added.