LONDON: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) will stop sending its students for further studies in the United States starting this year.

Its chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the decision was made given the uncertainties of policies under the current US administration.

“The current batch of students is supposed to further their studies in the US in October this year.

“However, given the uncertainties of current US policies, we do not want to impose any risk on our students (by sending them there),” he told reporters in London on Sunday (June 1).

The students who are supposed to go to the US this October will be sent to other top universities in other countries, he said.

“Among the countries being considered are Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China.

“We are also considering sending them to local universities as well,” he said.

Asyraf said counsellors have been assigned to discuss with the students about their prospective destination for further studies.

“The most important thing is that we don’t want to demotivate them.

“The counsellors will guide them to other renowned universities in other countries,” he added.

At the same time, Mara is also studying the impact of current US policies on its students already there, he said.

“We will make a decision on them once the study is completed,” he said.