PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA: The Higher Education Ministry has started working on a mutual agreement to recognise university programmes offered in China.

Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Zulkefli A. Hassan said a review of the mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with China would be ready by October.

Recognition of courses by the Malaysian government would encourage more students from China to pursue degrees here, Zulkefli said.

Only a few programmes at universities in China are now recognised by the government, such as Mandarin and traditional and complementary medicine.

"A team of officers from the republic will be here soon to discuss the MRA," he told the New Straits Times in an interview yesterday.

There are more than 2,000 universities in China.

Those interested in admitting Malaysian students would have to submit an official application to the Public Service Department.

Zulkefli also said Malaysia would have to benchmark itself with the best university practices in the world in line with its aim of becoming a regional education hub.

The subject of improving educational ties between Malaysia and China was on the agenda of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's visit to Beijing last month.

Commenting on university students' involvement in politics, Zulkefli said they were not allowed to take part as it "can lead to a chaotic and uncontrolled situation at universities".

"Students can be politically sensitive but they are banned from activities such as by-elections. They can express their critical thoughts or any grouses through dialogues or meetings, but not directly.

"If they are allowed to join the politicians in by-elections, the situation can turn ugly at universities. It can be counter-productive, too."