Kota Kinabalu: Some 52 students from the Islamic Religious Council of Sabah (Muis) will leave for Egypt on scholarship.
State Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Arifin Mohd Arif said the students will pursue Bachelor’s Degree in Islamic Studies, Hafiz Al-Quran (Qiraat) and Doctorate.
“This is in addition to 30 that were sent by Yayasan Sabah Technology College (KTYS) recently, also to the Middle East.
“Muis will send 37 students to Egypt’s Al Azhar University while the rest will leave on Oct 12 to study Qiraat and Doctorate.
“All these students received Muis Higher Education Assistance through the Zakat and Fitrah Fund of RM9,000 per year for five years of their studies and hope they will gain knowledge with excellence and return to Sabah with a wealth of knowledge,” he said.
“We advise them to be actively involved with the Egyptian Sabah Student Welfare Association, Malaysian Children’s Association and always keep in touch with other Sabah students, fellow Malaysians and International students,” he said.
Muis Deputy Chairman Malai Ali Malai Ahmad hoped to explore new opportunities by sending students to Morocco and Turkey for Islamic calligraphy.
The programme by KTYS was held for the first time in collaboration with Yayasan Sabah for students who have SPM, STPM and STAM interested in furthering their education in Jordan and Egypt in Religion and Arabic.
In the five-month programme, students are taught the basics of Arabic in writing and communication, in addition to understanding the culture, customs and values of society in Middle Eastern countries.
The students were taken to Kundasang, Ranau for three days and two nights to get an idea of how to adapt when facing winter there.
