EMGS works with law enforcement agencies over student visas

KUALA LUMPUR: Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) has assured that it worked closely with the Immigration Department and Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) in processing international students' applications for a student visa to study in Malaysia.
EMSG in a statement today said while it managed the entire application process including the management of the Student Application and Registration (STAR) system, it collaborated with Immigration in screening and processing all new applications for a student visa to Malaysia and also its annual renewal.
"EMGS also provides Immigration and PDRM with access to the EMGS database which is used as an important surveillance mechanism for the monitoring and tracking of international students by both agencies."
The company was responding to media reports quoting Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed as saying that the EMGS screening was done by the Higher Education Ministry without the involvement of the police and Immigration Department.
EMGS, a non-profit company wholly owned by the Higher Education Ministry, is responsible for the global promotion of the Education Malaysia brand and the provision of international student services which includes the management of applications for a student visa to Malaysia.
It is the only legal gateway for applications for a student visa to study in Malaysia, while there is a two-stage process in processing international students' applications for a student visa, which are academic screening by EMGS and immigration security screening by Immigration with the cooperation of PDRM.
"EMGS has also facilitated the technology platform at selected police stations in Peninsular Malaysia that enables the force to check the validity of a student's i-Kad, the identity card issued by Immigration to all international students in Malaysia.
"The system enables PDRM personnel to swiftly verify a student's identification and validity of the student visa when any student is stopped, queried or detained by police," it said in the statement.
It assured that all applications were reviewed, screened and processed jointly by EMGS and Immigration based on acts, policies and regulations of the Home Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, Malaysian Qualifications Agency, Human Resources Ministry, Immigration and PDRM. — Bernama