Malaysia plans to set up Education Malaysia in Saudi Arabia to coordinate bilateral academic programmes, scholarships and student welfare.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia plans to establish an Education Malaysia (EM) office in Saudi Arabia to coordinate bilateral educational cooperation.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the proposal was conveyed during a courtesy call by Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Osamah Dakhel R. Al-Ahmadi.

“Saudi Arabia has welcomed Malaysia’s proposal and I will be submitting a verbal note to the Saudi government in due course,” he told a press conference.

Zambry said EM would serve as a central coordinating body for two-way educational initiatives.

These initiatives cover student mobility, scholarship implementation and other collaborative programmes between the two nations.

He noted that thousands of Saudi students are currently pursuing their studies in Malaysia.

Conversely, thousands of Malaysians are also studying in Saudi Arabia, emphasising the need for a structured coordination mechanism.

“Matters concerning student welfare and any issues related to education that may arise will be handled through EM,” he said.

He added that EM would operate under the purview of the Malaysian Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

This structure is intended to ensure efficient management and effective communication.

 The Sun Malaysia