Lyna Mohamad
The biggest Malaysian education expo in Brunei, Yes2Malaysia, received close to 3,000 visitors throughout its three-day event with over 50 per cent from the one-day event at Pusat Insani in Seria.
Malaysian High Commissioner in Brunei Darussalam Dato’ Raja Reza bin Raja Zaib Shah, who visited the fair on the first day of the event in the Brunei-Muara District at Mulia Hotel, said currently approximately 900 students from the Sultanate are pursuing studies in Malaysia.
Affordable tuition fees and low cost of living, high education quality, and rising reputation in higher education global rankings are among the main reasons that Bruneians prefer to pursue their studies in Malaysia, he said.
“This exhibition will assist Malaysia in meeting its target to enrol 250,000 international students by 2025. The Malaysian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam supports REXPOCentral’s initiative to hold this education fair in the Sultanate and fairs organised by other parties,” said the high commissioner.
Dato’ Raja Reza noted that one of the main incentives offered by REXPOCentral to students who enrol in Malaysian universities were flight tickets to Kuala Lumpur.
Student Wafa Emma Aina binti Mohd Syukri from Raja Isteri Girls High School (STPRI) who visited the expo, said, “I will be sitting for my ‘O’ Level examination this year. When our teacher informed us about the visit to the expo, I volunteered to join as it may help me to decide my future education path after my exams.”
Wafa plans to enrol in dentistry or anything related to medicine.
Her interest in furthering studies in Malaysia is due to the variety of education options and ease of adaptability.
Meanwhile, Awangku Mohd Izzuddin bin Pengiran Hassanal from Sayyidina Abu Bakar Secondary School was looking to enrol in computer engineering programmes.
“I have always been interested in building computer hardware. I think Malaysia has several universities offering the course,” he said.
Expo visitor Zara whose sister is currently studying at a university in Serdang, Malaysia, plans to follow in her sister’s footsteps.
“There are few universities that have caught my interest, and I hope I will do well in my ‘O’ Level exam and join my sister,” she said.
