Students Anchor Strong Malaysia-Indonesia Ties -- Envoy

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

SURABAYA, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- The welfare of Malaysian students in East Java remains a top priority, said Malaysia’s Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin, stressing that people-to-people ties continue to be the foundation of the close friendship between the two neighbouring countries.

He said this while meeting more than 100 Malaysian students at Universitas Airlangga during the Malaysia Madani Programme and a get-together session organised by the National Union of Malaysian Students in Indonesia (PKPMI) Surabaya on Saturday (Sept 27).

Syed Mohamad Hasrin advised students to take care of their health, safety and ensure that their travel documents remain valid.

“Always check the expiry dates of your passports and visas. This simple step can help prevent unnecessary difficulties while in Indonesia,” he said.

He also underlined the government’s commitment to student welfare through the embassy’s presence alongside Education Malaysia Indonesia, a unit under the Ministry of Higher Education.

The session also provided students with the opportunity to interact directly with him and better understand the role of the embassy.

In addition to meeting students in Surabaya, Syed Mohamad Hasrin visited Kediri, about 124 kilometres from Surabaya, where he met 30 Malaysian students studying at three pesantren (Islamic boarding schools).

The informal gathering over dinner was described by students as a meaningful experience.

“The embassy’s presence made us feel appreciated, as if we were with our own family,” said Muhammad Ehsan Mohd Suib, 23, from Selangor, who has been studying at Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo for the past five years.

He said the visit renewed his motivation to remain focused on his studies.

In both meetings, the Ambassador stressed that Malaysia-Indonesia relations remain strong in trade, education, tourism and leadership ties.

“Malaysia continues to be a top destination for Indonesian students because of the internationally recognised quality of its higher education institutions. At present, 11,445 Indonesian students are studying in Malaysia,” he said.

There are also 1,175 Malaysian students currently pursuing their studies in Indonesia, including Islamic studies at Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo and other pesantren across the country, he added.

Surabaya, the capital of East Java known as the “City of Heroes”, is Indonesia’s second-largest metropolitan city and a major hub for international students, including those from Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA