Malaysian ambassador highlights stronger ties through education

Malaysia’s Ambassador to Cambodia, Shaharuddin Onn, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Cambodia through educational cooperation during a heartfelt send-off ceremony for eight Cambodian students departing for further studies in Malaysia.The ceremony, which took place ahead of the students’ journey to pursue associate degrees in business management at University College MAIWP International (UCMI), was also attended by Nasiet Othsman, adviser to the Royal Government of Cambodia and president of the Cambodian Muslim Youth Alliance (CMYA), on behalf of Senior Minister Othsman Hassan, minister delegate attached to the prime minister.

Ambassador Shaharuddin congratulated the scholarship recipients and highlighted the symbolic significance of the Malaysian-funded programme.

“The award of scholarships to Cambodian students is one of the many initiatives undertaken by the Government and people of Malaysia that further strengthen the relations between our two countries,” he said.

“As the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Cambodia, I am very happy and pleased to see the strength and depth of our relations, which is apparent and excellent in all aspects – government-to-government; business-to-business; and people-to-people.”

The fully funded scholarships, provided by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council of Malaysia (MAIWP), cover tuition fees, visa processing, daily meals, accommodation, and airfare for a duration of two and a half years. The initiative is part of Malaysia’s broader effort to support human resource development in Cambodia, an area the ambassador emphasised as vital to national growth.

“Malaysia strongly believes that the development of human capital is crucial to the development of the nation,” said Ambassador Shaharuddin. “It is in this regard that Malaysia places great emphasis on developing its human capital, primarily through education and capacity-building.”

“Such efforts are also in line with Malaysia’s aspirations to further develop Malaysia as a regional educational hub,” he added.

This scholarship programme is the result of an agreement forged following the official visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to Malaysia in February 2024. During the visit, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim pledged 100 scholarships worth nearly $1 million to the Cambodian government.

Ambassador Shaharuddin emphasised that this initiative is not just a gesture of goodwill but a long-term investment in strengthening regional partnerships.

“I express hope many more Cambodians, including Cambodian Muslims, would be presented with similar opportunities to further their studies in Malaysia,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nasiet extended his warm congratulations and words of encouragement to the departing students, advising them to embrace the opportunity with focus and discipline.

“Strengthen your language skills, absorb technical knowledge, and always connect theory with practice,” he told them. “Bring this knowledge back to serve your communities and your country.”

He also expressed his deep gratitude to the Malaysian government for its unwavering support in providing Cambodian youth with life-changing educational opportunities. He noted that the scholarship programme marks a significant contribution to Cambodia’s human capital development strategy.

To ensure smooth implementation of the scholarship programme, Senior Minister Othsman, in his role as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to Malaysia and President of the Cambodian Muslim Development Foundation (CMDF), has been instrumental in facilitating student selection, preparation, and departure. He has also contributed personal funds to assist with the students’ travel arrangements.

Malaysia has become an increasingly popular destination for Cambodian students seeking higher education opportunities abroad. This trend is fuelled by a combination of fully funded scholarships, cultural and religious affinities, and Malaysia’s growing reputation as a regional education hub.

A variety of scholarship programmes are available to Cambodian students wishing to study in Malaysia, including Malaysian Government Scholarships, the ASEAN-Maybank Scholarship Programme, and Albukhary International University Scholarships. KhmerTime