Where are our visas, passports, foreign students ask IIUM
SHAH ALAM - Foreign students at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) say they will hold a daily protest at the university compound until their visa issue is solved.
It is believed over 300 students face delays in receiving visas for up to five months and are unable to travel back to their country.
The students initially started sharing their experiences through Twitter and Facebook using #IIUMINTSTUDENTVISA hashtags.
A student named Abdirisak has also requested local students to support and highlight their predicament.
"It's very obvious that IIUM administration has failed us specifically the visa unit. We have complained, reported, shouted, and even screamed countless times but no response from them.
"Let's gather and protest. Be it at the visa unit, the so-called International office, or even the president's office.
"For the local students, if you don't like the way you international students are being treated by visa unit, come and join us. . Support your peers, roommates and classmates in hard times," he said through a Facebook post today.
Whereas another international student named Burhan claims that they were threatened by IIUM university staff when asked over the visa issue.
"Do you want dismissal? I will show you the legal unit, All the people of your country are like this, Go back to your county, were among the sentence used by visa unit to greet the international student," Burhan claimed.
Some students expressed their utmost disappointment since they are unable to meet their families for Islamic festivals.
A student named Hakki stressed that the international students are not illegal migrants or workers but students who come to gain knowledge.
"We just want our passports and visa. For the past five months over 200 students are waiting for our passports. Who is responsible for this?.
"The visa unit has to solve this issue. We are fed up with this uncertainty, we have families to see and we should not be victims of mismanagement," he said.
Students further claimed that they have been treated unprofessionally by staff.
Sinar Daily is contacting IIUM for their comments on the matter.
