Malaysia capable to be at forefront in learning, exploring Arabic language

SUNGAI PETANI: Malaysia is capable of being at the forefront of Muslim countries in the learning and exploring of the Arabic language, said Egypt's Al-Azhar University Sheikh Zayed Language Centre director, Prof Dr Mahmoud Ahmad Farj.
He said the centre received 1,200 Malaysian students annually, which represented one third of the total number of students in the centre since it was established in 2013.
"We receive 3,000 students every year from 50 countries and one third of this total is from Malaysia.
"This reflects the deep interest among Malaysian students to learn knowledge in Arabic at Al-Azhar Univeristy", he said when met by Bernama after the opening of the international conference on Arabic Language Empowerment Through Globalisation (ALIC) 2017 in Kuala Ketil, near here yesterday.
The interview was conducted in Arabic.
Dr Mahmoud said the performance of Malaysian students at the language centre was very encouraging compared to students from other countries and the Malaysian embassy in Egypt was constantly monitoring their devleopment from time to time.
Asked on plans by Al-Azhar University to open a branch of Syeikh Zayed Language Centre, he said the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates (WOAG Malaaysia) had expressed such an intention.
"We welcome (it) and open our doors wide to WOAG Malaysia to set up the centre in this country," he said.
The Syeikh Zayed Language Centre is an Arabic language learning centre under the auspices of Al-Azhar University, Egypt for non Arabic speaking students and it emphasises four essential skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the language.
The language centre, which is based in Cairo, also focused on several important fields, including tourism, business and defence. — Bernama