KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 (Sin Chew Daily) — The first batch of 46 Malaysian students — final year students and those whose studies involve laboratory experiments — are scheduled to return to China soon.

Appointed by the government, Parti Gerakan Rakyat is assisting Malaysian students to start the process of resuming their studies in China universities.

Gerakan vice president Ranndy Yap Kim Heng said Malaysia is now waiting for the reply from the Chinese authorities on the precautionary procedures to be adhered to.

Yap said in a press conference that he was accompanying Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah to China, where the minister had a bilateral talk with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

Yap said Gerakan would speed up the process of assisting about 8,000 Malaysian students unable to return to China to continue their studies due to the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected their studies as some are unable to attend practical sessions while some have been forced to quit their studies.

Many of the students are still awaiting the latest updates on whether they could continue with their studies in China.

Gerakan has since contacted the Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges in China, Malaysia, and has proposed for final year students and those requiring to do laboratory works to be given the priority to return to China.

Yap said Gerakan would approach other alumnus groups as well as Malaysian students stranded here since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to help them return to China soon.

Malaysian students unable to return to China can contact the Gerakan secretariat at 03-9287-6868 or e-mail [email protected].