Rohingya education poses no threat to national sovereignty, minister says

The admission of Rohingya refugees to pursue their studies in institutions of higher learning (IPT) in Malaysia will not compromise the country's sovereignty, said Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Commenting on the dissatisfaction expressed by some parties over the move to allow Rohingya refugees to study at local universities, he said education is the right of every human being and Malaysia cannot be selfish in this matter.

"There is no problem (with the issue of sovereignty). We (Malaysia) are one of the civilised countries that understand that we are also expected to help refugees," he told reporters after officiating the Semarak Siswa Madani programme in Putrajaya today. 

Yesterday, the media reported that the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) was ready to offer places to study for Rohingya refugees, whose education will be funded using the US$50 million donation from the Qatar Fund for Development (QDF).

Mohamed Khaled said the Rohingya refugees who are qualified to continue their studies at local universities will also be funded by the QDF.

"In this context (education), Qatar is providing donations for Rohingya refugees and we have called on Qatar and other organisations to help many other refugees, like those from Palestine, Syria and Bosnia," he said.

In 2017, Qatar pledged to provide financial support to Malaysia to implement humanitarian projects for Rohingya refugees.

Meanwhile, at the event, Khaled also presented RM2,000 to each of the 31 IPT students who contributed gold medals in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in May.