TWO MINISTRIES TO PREVENT ABUSE OF STUDENT PASSES

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- The home and higher education ministries will
jointly monitor foreign nationals who use student passes to enter the country.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the move was aimed at preventing
abuse of the passes.

"Some of them are found to have entered the country by using student passes
or tourist visas which would eventually be changed to student passes, but they
are not really pursuing studies," he said in a statement here Wednesday.

Hishammuddin said a meeting would be convened to set up a special committee,
which would comprise representatives from the two ministries, to scrutinise the
screening and monitoring process over the intake of foreign students.

"This involves the procedures and intake requirements, including minimum
academic qualifications and eligibility of the students to pursue their studies
at the institutions of higher learning here," he said.

Hishammuddin said both ministries would carry out periodic checks on the
student passes, following allegations that certain holders no longer attended
lectures and tutorials at their respective universities.

Besides, he said, the ministry, through its relevant agency, would also
introduce biometric system at all entry points as part of efforts to upgrade
the entry system in the country.

"This will enable the identity of the each individual who visits the country
to be recorded so that those who are banned from entering the country can be
identified," he said.
-- BERNAMA