Students from 32 countries get work opportunities in Malaysia, but Bangladeshis left out

BD Digest Desk

Amid the recent arrests of Bangladeshi militants in Malaysia, attempts to enter illegally, and hundreds of Bangladeshis being turned away from the airport for not meeting immigration law conditions, another disappointing piece of news has come for Bangladeshi students. The country has introduced a one-year ‘graduate pass’ visa for international students, but Bangladeshi students will not be able to benefit from it.

According to the country’s Education Malaysia Global Service (EMMGS) and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), the ‘Graduate Pass’ is a social visit pass that allows students who have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher from a recognized higher education institution in Malaysia to stay in the country for 12 months at a time and work in specific sectors. It does not require sponsorship from an employer.

Eligibility includes a valid student visa, passport with at least 18 months validity, health insurance, and proof of a monthly income of at least RM1,500, along with a personal guarantee from a Malaysian citizen. However, this benefit will not apply to those with any criminal cases or convictions.

The sectors in which students will find job opportunities include information technology, engineering, science and research, finance and Islamic banking, software development, cybersecurity, biotechnology, healthcare, renewable energy, logistics, digital marketing, minerals, pharmaceuticals, and creative multimedia.

ImMGS and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said in a special bulletin that this facility is currently open to students from 32 countries.

These include Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Canada, Switzerland, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, USA, Oman and Bahrain. In addition, students from India and China will also get this benefit until 31 December 2026.

The university authorities say that this opportunity will help international students gain professional experience after their studies and build technology-based human resources in Malaysia. While many students see the initiative as positive, the exclusion of Bangladesh from the list has become a source of disappointment.