Chong: Chinese varsities eyeing new partnerships with Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: More twinning programmes between local private universities and Chinese universities are in the offing, says Datuk Chong Sin Woon.

The Deputy Education Minister said besides investments from major Chinese corporations under the Belt and Road initiative, educational institutions also want to set up bases in the country.

He said one of the pull factors was the increasing number of mainland Chinese living in Malaysia under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

“We are seeing more and more Chinese buying houses in the country, and bringing their children to study here due to the high education standards and multi-lingual environment.

“There is huge potential because companies selling the MM2H programme aren’t just selling houses but their proximity to international schools too,” he said after meeting with a delegation of Chinese investors yesterday.

The MCA Youth chief said the drop in the ringgit’s value vis-a-vis the renminbi had also encouraged more investors to flock to Malaysia, as the country is both economically competitive and a viable retirement country.

“Our economic competitiveness is ranked first in the region, ahead of China, South Korea and Japan. The Asian Development Bank has also revised its projections for the country’s economic growth to 5.4%, higher than the Government forecast. These are all pull factors,” Chong said.

He also said there was no barrier in terms of opening branch campuses of renowned Chinese universities or offering twinning programmes.

“As long as the university is ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide, there should not be a problem. I foresee such programmes in the future as there is a high demand for people who are multi-lingual,” he said. Chong added that Chinese companies would give top priority for Malaysians who have mastered Mandarin.