US visa issue: Malaysian students at Harvard students at Harvard can continue their studies for now
PUTRAJAYA (June 8): Malaysian students attending Harvard University can continue their studies without being interrupted by their visa status for now, the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) said.
This follows the latest development on the visa issue, with a United States (US) federal court judge ruling to grant a temporary restraining order (TRO) after an application was filed by Harvard, providing relief to over 6,800 international students there.
The ministry said in a statement today that it was monitoring the developments of this issue closely through Education Malaysia Washington D.C. (EMWDC).
'The decision enables international students, including Malaysian students, to continue studying without interruption for the time being.
'The ministry and EMWDC have also reached out to related sponsors and US education officials. The ministry welcomes their commitment to work together to ensure the wellbeing of our students,' the ministry said.
The MOHE also reminded students to update their optional practical training information and to be careful in all action involving immigration matters.
'For now, no Malaysian student has been reported to have encountered any problems or issues with their records with the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVIS) and any withdrawal of their visas,' the ministry said.
It also recommended new students for Harvard's September 2025 intake to deal directly with the university and their sponsors to obtain the latest developments before making any further decisions.
The ministry reiterated Malaysia's belief that cross-border higher education was an important platform to global talent development, knowledge exchange and strategic partnerships between countries.
The ministry urged all parties to remain calm, act based on verified information, and to prioritse students' welfare when dealing with the issue and would continue to support Malaysian students abroad regardless of the situation in line with the Malaysia MADANI concept. – Bernama education Harvard student visa
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Govt to boost VM2026 on social media
KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry will utilise social media platforms to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) globally. Its Deputy Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Xiaohongshu will be used to market Malaysia as an appealing travel destination. "The ministry is crafting consistent and effective narratives to make Malaysia appear as a prime travel destination," he said in reply to Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) during the Minister Question Time today. He added that Malaysia is employing targeted marketing strategies to attract tourists from China, Australia, India, Indonesia, Central Asia, Russia, Middle East, the United Kingdom, Chinese Taipei, Germany and Asean nations. "We are also increasing traffic of visitors to Malaysia by adding flight routes to main Malaysian cities from international destinations." He also said the ministry is engaging with online travel agencies to ensure that the travel packages offered remain competitive.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia showcases culture, flavours in Hanoi from Wednesday to Sunday
HANOI: A dynamic series of cultural, culinary, and artistic events will unfold in the Vietnamese capital as "Madani Malaysia Week 2025" takes place from today to Sunday (July 30-Aug 3). According to Vietnam News Agency (VNA), highlights of the programme include Selera Malaysia, a food festival offering guests an immersive experience in Malaysian cuisine, complemented by traditional music and dance performances. A dedicated seminar will also spotlight the "Visit Malaysia 2026" tourism campaign. The main festivities are scheduled for Aug 2–3 at Aeon Mall Long Bien, with the official opening ceremony to be chaired by the Malaysia's Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister. At a press conference on July 29, Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Datuk Tan Yang Thai emphasised Malaysia's multicultural heritage, noting that its cultural richness has helped build enduring ties of respect and understanding with Vietnam. He underlined that the week is more than a cultural display — it is a heartfelt invitation to the Vietnamese public to explore Malaysia's heritage first-hand. This year's programme is guided by the Malaysia Madani initiative, promoted by the Malaysian Prime Minister, which champions the values of sustainability, compassion, and trust. Through the festival, the country aims to deepen bilateral cooperation in tourism, culture, education, and trade. Last year, Malaysia welcomed over 336,000 visitors from Vietnam. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 168,000 travellers moved between the two countries. As of March, there were 167 direct flights per week connecting the two nations, with an increasing number of night flights offering greater travel flexibility and diverse tourism options, according to the ambassador. — BERNAMA
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
PU Abu plans resignation over stranded pilgrims incident
SEPANG: Muhammad Abu Sufyan Mohd Mokhtar Rozaidi, better known as PU Abu, has announced his intention to resign as an umrah guide with a travel agency following the recent incident involving stranded pilgrims in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Abu Sufyan said the decision came after facing numerous challenges while managing the group of pilgrims who were unable to return to Malaysia as originally scheduled. He said the company's management failed to provide any clear explanation regarding the funds for accommodation and return flights, despite repeated attempts to seek clarification since the beginning of the incident. "I gave the company until 6.30pm (local time) on July 26 to respond. "However, when there was no action or response, I decided to bring the matter to social media," he said when met at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday. Abu Sufyan said this was a last resort to draw the attention of the relevant authorities, including government agencies and the public, to help resolve the crisis faced by the stranded pilgrims. "I did not expect the issue to receive such widespread attention, including coverage from television stations and local media, which in turn helped to put pressure on those responsible," he added. Abu Sufyan said Ustaz Firdaus (Firabib Group Sdn Bhd managing director Mohd Firdaus Mat Akhir) had stepped in with a sum of money as collateral to cover accommodation costs and purchase return tickets through a travel agency. "I saw no way out. There were no funds, and the answers remained the same. Alhamdulillah, Ustaz Firdaus came forward to help and gave his assurance that the pilgrims would be flown home," he said. Abu Sufyan added that since the matter was publicised on social media, several parties, including the Malaysian Embassy in Jeddah, had come forward to assist, and their efforts eventually enabled all 39 pilgrims to return safely to Malaysia. "I would like to express my appreciation to the media and all individuals who played a role in ensuring the pilgrims' welfare was safeguarded. "I am deeply disappointed — umrah operators should not solely focus on profit but must also take responsibility for the pilgrims and staff who rely on them," he said. Abu Sufyan said he had joined the company as an umrah guide in 2023 and had only an employee relationship with the management — he was neither a partner nor an owner. "I will be submitting my resignation letter. In addition, several parties have approached me with offers to start my own agency. "For now, I need some space to recover and will discuss with the pilgrims and relevant parties to seek justice," he said. Previously, 43 pilgrims were reported stranded in Jeddah after the agency, Persada Global Holidays Sdn Bhd, failed to provide return flight tickets upon completion of their umrah. The pilgrims, aged between 20 and 60, were forced to stay overnight at a nearby apartment after being unable to board their scheduled flight. They had arrived on July 16 through an umrah package offered by the agency and were supposed to return to Malaysia on July 26.
