Registration problem of 96 M’sian students at Maahad Qiraat Shoubra al-Azhar in Egypt solved

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 96 Malaysian students taking Qiraat studies at Maahad Qiraat Shoubra Al-Azhar, in Egypt, are now able to attend classes after having problems to register at the college since arriving there on July 14.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religion) Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the problems were resolved when he met the Syeikh or Rector of Al-Azhar University, Prof Dr Ahmed Muhammad al-Tayyib last Saturday during his visit to the university.

“The students have problems to register at Maahad Shoubra following a new circular issued by Al-Azhar University which requires foreign students pursuing Qiraat studies at Maahad Shoubra to pass the ‘Qabul’ test.

“Apart from that, they are also required to pass the Muwafawah ‘Amniyyah test ( security screening) by the Egyptian authority,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Mujahid said it was the new requirements that gave problems to the students concerned.

However, he said, the problems were resolved when he discussed the matter with Ahmed.

“I was informed by an officer at the Education Malaysia Egypt ( EME) that the students have began classes on Monday,” he added.

The meeting with the AlAzhar University Syeikh was one Mujahid’s main agenda during his five- day working visit to Cairo, Egypt, during which he also attended the World Fatwa Conference which was attended by muftis worldwide. — Bernama