Egypt deports 104 Malaysian Students Due to Visa Violations

Egyptian immigration authorities have deported 104 Malaysian students back to Malaysia.

As many as 127 Malaysian students in Egypt have been detained by local authorities for visa related offenses as of February 27, according to various reports.

It is believed that many of the institutions in Egypt, particularly those who offer Islamic education, are not registered with the Egyptian authorities. This issue was explained by a representative of the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo and was attributed to the visa situation.

Many students are facing a difficult time because of the time, effort and financial investment into their education over the period that have passed.

It is uncertain at this point if they will be allowed to continue their studies here in Malaysia or start over.

The issue is not new

Last year, it was reported that Malaysian students were drowning in debt because they needed to pay their institutions. However, many students failed to pay because they were relying on government scholarships.

The government scholarship was not delivered due to suspicion of unregulated practices by agents here in Malaysia. Many agents promised that students will get sponsorship and failed to deliver on their promises.

The Malaysian government issued a warning to inform the public of these agents who are tricking students and their families to study in Egypt. Additionally, many officials and NGOs were able to aid some of these students.

This issue is one of the consequences

If families fail to investigate the authenticity of the institution they will be sending their children to study and spend a significant amount of money, then this scenario is likely to occur again. Therefore, it is advisable to ensure the institutions are recognised by Egyptian authorities and approved by Malaysian education authorities before committing to this long-term investment.

It is also recommended that families check with the authorities in Malaysia to confirm the information they have obtained regarding the institution they are interested in.

Recognised universities not effected

Malaysia does recognise many Egyptian institutions and provide scholarships to qualified students to study there. Many Egyptian universities in the field of medicine are highly revered in Malaysia.

These universities/institutions are not affected by the move because of their legitimate practices and authentic status.