KOTA KINABALU, Aug 3 (Sin Chew Daily) — The issue of Malaysian students having difficulties applying for visas to pursue their studies in Taiwan has been resolved after the Federation of Alumni Associations of Taiwan Universities Malaysia president Ting Siew Haw discussed the problem with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia.

Ting said he met with the representatives of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia several days ago to sort out pending issues encountered by Malaysian students who will be leaving for Taiwan next month to further their studies in colleges and universities there.

Ting said owing to unavailability of flights in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the universities and authorities in Taiwan would adopt a more flexible approach to handle the registration of Malaysian students in Taiwan.

Malaysian students affected by flight deferment will still be accepted by the universities.

"If the students are unable to show up at the universities to register for the autumn intake due to COVID-19, they will not be seen as giving up," he said.

Ting said the Federation of Alumni Associations of Taiwan Universities in Malaysia will continue to assist the students in applying for their student visas.

The visa application issue will be reviewed by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan first before it is referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will then forward the names of Malaysian students applying for visas to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia announced earlier that the office would help handle the visa applications of Malaysian students studying in National Taiwan University, National Taiwan Normal University, National Ilan University and other universities in Taiwan.