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By Priya Kulasagaran
STUDENTS from China wanting to study in Malaysia should be aware of unscrupulous recruitment agents.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung said that private higher education institutions (IPTS) must be careful of the agents they choose to work with.
Dr Hou says that dialogues allow students to voice their fears and concerns.
"If private colleges continue to use bad agents, it becomes a very difficult problem to curb," he said after a dialogue with representatives from the Chinese Student Association Malaysia (CSAM).
The event was held as part of the Ministry's move to have open interaction with students through CSAM, which is recognised by the Chinese embassy.
Over 150 Chinese students from various IPTS were present to air their grievances to ministry officials.
Other issues raised were student worries concerning the crime rate in Malaysia, IPTS courses that might not be recognised in China, as well as claims of high accommodation fees charged by IPTS.
"We want to encourage dialogues so that students can directly speak to us about their fears and concerns," said Dr Hou, adding that many Chinese students come to Malaysia because of the affordable tuition fees and living costs.
There are currently 9,322 students from China studying in Malaysia.
The ministry also organised a forum with Indonesian student representatives earlier this year.
Plans are underway to include students of other nationalities in similar dialogues.
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