Wee: Malaysia among world’s best for education

PETALING JAYA: The priority given by the Government to the education sector has led to Malaysia becoming one of the world’s top places for studies, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He said the leading status came almost two decades after amendments to the Education Act to open up the sector.

“Today, I am proud to say that the country has risen to become one of the world’s Top 10 most desired destinations for education,” he said in his speech at the signing ceremony between Brecon Synergy and 1541 Ltd yesterday.

The agreement will see the setting up of the King Henry VIII College – the first overseas outpost of Britain’s Christ College Brecon – in Cyberjaya.

The international school, scheduled to open in 2018, will cater to students aged between seven and 18.

Dr Wee said the endorsement reflected the confidence the world has in Malaysia.

“It strengthens our portfolio in offering quality education to the world,” he said.

He said the Government was dedicated to providing quality education and implementing reforms to upgrade the education sector.

He noted that for more than a decade, the country has recorded at least a 16% growth in international students pursuing higher education in Malaysia.

“Malaysia aims to have 200,000 international students by the year 2020.

“I believe we will achieve this with the attributes that make the country competitive globally, including quality of life, affordability, cultural diversity and the English medium of instruction,” he said.

He thanked the Malaysian higher education sector and its foreign partners for helping the country achieve the high standards required to sustain its position as a global destination of education.

On a separate matter, Dr Wee who is also Johor MCA chairman, said there was no reason to oust Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin as Johor mentri besar.

“Since taking office three years ago, he has attracted much foreign investment to the state.

“He is doing well and has a good relationship with the people, as well as the Barisan Nasional component parties in Johor,” he told reporters later in response to an online post claiming that there was a plot to topple Mohamed Khaled.