Muscat 13 August 2011 - His Excellency Dato’ Rustam Yahya, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Sultanate of Oman has attended a briefing session for Malaysia-bound Government sponsored Omani students held at the School of Law, Al Watayyah, Muscat on 13 August 2011. More than 500 students and their parents attended the session. Also attended were YBhg. Associate Professor Datin Dr Musyrifah Sapardi, wife to H.E. Ambassador, Mr. Shushilil Azam Shuib, Regional Director for the Malaysian Education Promotion Centre in Dubai and Mr. Mohd Norhisyam Mohd Yusof, Counsellor/Head of Chancery of the Embassy as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Higher Education of the Sultanate of Oman.
2. During his remarks, H.E. Ambassador reminisced about Malaysia’s experience being colonised by various colonial masters. According to him, within forty years after independence, Malaysia had taken various efforts to become what she is right now, and the industrialised Malaysia is attributed to its leaders’ vision and great emphasis on education. H.E. Ambassador further informed the fully packed lecture hall that Malaysia remains committed to education and maintains its education standards. Every year, Malaysia has allocated huge budget for education. In this regard, H.E. Ambassador informed the crowd that Malaysia is willing to share its vast experience, especially in education, with other friendly countries.
3. For the Sultanate of Oman, H.E. Ambassador said that he was impressed with the visions of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’. He also said that each year, Oman has allocated huge financial budget for education of its citizens. It was therefore timely for Malaysia and Oman to continue to enhance cooperation in education for mutual benefit.
4. The session continued with a briefing by Mr. Shushilil Azam Shuib, Regional Director for the Malaysian Education Promotion Centre who came all the way from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mr Shushilil Azam spoke about the advantages of studying in Malaysia. He also impressed upon students and parents that Malaysian education is of world standard with tight accreditation process.
5. For the first time, the Government of the Sultanate of Oman has agreed to send its excellent students under Government Scholarship to Malaysia. For the year 2011, under the directive of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) of Oman has increased the number of scholarships to Omani students. For the current year, MoHE has allocated 1,500 scholarship for various seats in foreign university. Malaysia will receive 200 students in various discipline of studies in various institutes of higher education.
6. The Embassy of Malaysia in Muscat wishes the students the best of luck. The Embassy would also like to convey its utmost gratitude and appreciation to all parties who have jointly made untiring efforts to bring Omani scholars to Malaysia, come true.
