PETALING JAYA, Aug 4 (Sin Chew Daily) — Malaysian students are still in the dark if they will be going to universities in China, Taiwan or Hong Kong next month.

Many Malaysian students studying in China are unable to return to their campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A check with the Embassy of China reveals that the Chinese government is still looking into drafting a program for foreign students to return to China.

An embassy spokesman told Sin Chew Daily the relevant department in the Chinese government had received requests from students to return to the campus and the department was looking into the matter.

Bock Chek Lim, president of the Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China, Malaysia, said universities and colleges in China will reopen in September but Malaysian students are unlikely to be able to leave for China.

In an interview with Sin Chew Daily, Bock said China had yet to open its borders to foreign students.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic is getting worse here, China may not allow Malaysian students to enter China even if it is gradually opening up to allow foreigners to go to China,” he said.

Without support from the Malaysian government, even if the association was requesting China to allow Malaysian students to return to China, the request would not be entertained, he said.

Bock suggested that the government collaborate with the Chinese government to initiate a ‘transfer bubble’ similar to travel bubble for students to return to universities in China.

“Such program will allow Malaysian students to undergo quarantine first and then vaccination. A screening can be held prior to departure. If this is feasible, the program can be used throughout the world.

Bock said the Chinese government had set a precedent by allowing businessmen and students from Korea to enter China in July last year.

Since last September, the Association has received letters from Malaysian students studying in China seeking help as they are unable to return to the campus in China and unable to attend online classes.

He said some students were unable to continue with their classes as the universities did not conduct online classes.

Based on the data collected by the association, Bock said at least 145 medical students from Malaysia had been unable to carry out clinical practice due to the pandemic.

He hoped that close to 5,000 Malaysian students, including those scheduled to leave for China in September, would receive their inoculation appointments soon.

Hong Jin Xing, president of the Federation of Alumni Association Of Taiwan Universities, Malaysia, said Taiwan had yet to announce whether it would allow Malaysian students to travel to Taiwan.

An announcement is expected to be made in mid-August.