KUALA LUMPUR: The visa-free stay for Taiwanese tourists will be extended to 30 days.
Currently, they are only allowed to come here for 15 days.
Malaysians can stay in Taiwan for 30 days without a visa.
“The Cabinet approved this two weeks ago,” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said when opening the Taiwan Higher Education Fair here yesterday.
74,000 Taiwanese tourists visited the country and spent RM700mil here last year.
On the event, Dr Wee said the number of students pursuing their studies in Taiwan saw a double digit growth after Malaysia recognised more than half of the private and public higher education institutions in Taiwan.
He said Taiwan – which provides quality education at a cheaper rate compared to the western countries – could be a place to consider for those who planned to study abroad.
Taiwan Political Deputy Minister of Education Lucia Lin said Malaysians topped all international students in Taiwan.
To encourage more foreign students, she added that the country allowed international students to proceed with their internship on the island upon graduation.
Taiwan Overseas Community Affairs Council Minister Steven Chen said the country also introduced a 3+4 syllabus (three years at higher vocational school and four years at university) for those from not well-to-do families.
“Under this programme, the students will rotate, for a three-month period each time, between studying and working until they graduate,” he said, adding that they would also seek education loans for these students to cover their school fees and other expenses for the first semester.
The education fair, which saw the participation of 93 institutions from Taiwan, is being held at the Putra World Trade Centre here until today. It will also be held in Muar, Johor on Aug 17 and 18 as well as Miri in Sarawak on Aug 21 and 22.
At a separate function in Yong Peng, Dr Wee said Johor MCA had identified its potential candidates to stand for the next general election.
The state MCA chairman said 16 out of 18 divisions where MCA would be contesting had submitted their proposals on the potential candidates.
He also said Johor MCA would be holding its annual convention, to be officiated by party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, at the Tunku Abdul Rahman University College in Segamat on Sept 26.
