THE entry of new foreign and existing students, including those already registered in local institutions of higher learning, will be suspended until December 31, the Immigration Department said today.

Its director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said in a statement today the suspension is in line with the Higher Education Ministry’s decision to withhold in-person classes following the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in the country. 

“The immigration has been made to understand that the Higher Education Ministry has consulted with airline companies on rescheduling flights of international students,” Khairul Dzaimee said.

The decision comes after the ministry made a last-minute change to move classes and registrations online yesterday.

Thousands of students were caught off guard as they were already at or on the way to their campuses to begin the new semester.

Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad had told  students who had arrived at campuses to remain there until further notice and advised others to postpone their travel plans.

“To students who have arrived, (they) can continue to stay at the campus and look forward to further instructions by the university. 

“To the students who are still in their homes or hometowns, I plead with you to delay your return to the university for a while,” Noraini had said in a statement after facing backlash on social media.

“I hope the institutions of higher learning will be reasonable and considerate in managing all matters arising from the delay,” she said on Facebook.

Noraini said the ministry only suggested the suspension of registration following the spike in Covid-19 cases in the country. – October 4, 2020.