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Malaysia PM: study hard abroad and return home

Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak called on students working and studying abroad to excel in their studies and represent the country well before returning home to expand the country’s economy globally.

53, 861 Malaysian students studied abroad in 2011

“As junior ambassadors, Malaysians, especially students and officers at embassies must portray the nation’s success and uniqueness abroad; I hope you will study hard and manage yourselves well in order to contribute towards Malaysia’s success,” he said during a simultaneous video conference with students and embassies in five different countries on Monday.

The video conference was broadcast to students in Jakarta, Canberra, London, Beijing, and Tokyo. Razak was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Information Communication and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and wife Datin Seri Maznah Rais, and Foreign Affairs deputy ministers, Senators Kohilan Pillai and Datuk Richard Riot.

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 53, 861 Malaysian students studied abroad in 2011, an increase from 39, 409 in 2001. Good news for a country with its eye on expanding future global business.

“I hope you will study hard and manage yourselves well in order to contribute towards Malaysia’s success”

The PM told the international audience that Malaysia was increasingly recognised as “a successful country globally” and achieved 5.4% growth in the second quarter of this year.

“This is an achievement which goes against the uncertainty of the global economy. It also proves that if Malaysians fully support the country’s transformation agenda in their own way, we can achieve a high growth rate,” he said.

He emphasised that Malaysia was open to multiculturalism and said the country hopes to produce more regional and global corporate leaders such as Ventures Holdings Bhd and IHH Healthcare Berhad.

The call corresponded with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the celebration commemorating the end of the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan. Razak’s wife Rosmah encouraged students to phone their parents during the religious holiday.

Tee May Chin, 23, a student representative from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, said it was a happy occasion for all 15,000 Malaysians studying in China.

“Especially when the whole of Malaysia is celebrating Hari Raya but we’re far away missing our parents and country. Thank you for not forgetting us,” she told The New Straits Times.

“All the best in your studies and don’t forget to come home,” added Rosmah.

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