No directive yet to recall Mara students from West Asia — Deputy Minister

KOTA SAMARAHAN (April 5): The federal government is actively monitoring the movements of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara)-sponsored students studying in the West Asia to ensure their safety amid the ongoing war, said Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang.

The Kota Samarahan MP said for now, Putrajaya has not issued any directive to bring these Malaysian students home from the affected areas.

“Their studies are continuing as usual. This issue is not an easy matter,” she said when met at her Kota Samarahan Ramah Mesra Aidilfitri event in the civic centre here on Saturday.

“We are closely monitoring their safety and remain in constant contact with our offices and representatives, particularly in the West Asia region,” she added.

During the event, incentives were presented to straight-A students from the Kota Samarahan District in recognition of their achievements in the 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.

Rubiah also noted that the district’s average school grade had declined in the latest SPM results, but she expressed optimism for improved performance in the coming year.

Also present were Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Idris Buang.

In his remarks, Abdul Karim said the residents of Kota Samarahan District had shown a significant positive shift in mindset over the years.

“In the 1970s and 1980s, one could count on their fingers the number of people from this district who managed to enter university or graduate successfully graduate,” said the Asajaya assemblyman.