Brunei (Commonwealth Union)_ Malaysia has long been a favorite study abroad destination for Bruneians due to its close location, lower cost of living, and cultural and traditional similarities. Yes2Malaysia, the largest Malaysian education expo held in Brunei, drew around 3,000 people over the course of its three-day event, with more than 50 percent attending the one-day event at Pusat Insani in Seria. The two-day education exhibition was arranged by REXPOCentral Sdn Bhd (Malaysia), Education Malaysia Global Assist (EMGA), MEG Educational Services (Brunei), and AdXpert Marketing (Brunei).
The education expo was also supported by the Malaysian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam, which offered the event’s organizer with auxiliary assistance in the form of networking with organizations and other connected ministries that added value to the event’s exhibitors and attendees. Dato’ Raja Reza bin Raja Zaib Shah, Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, paid a visit to the exhibition held in the Caesar Hall of the Mulia Hotel. He was greeted by Ahmad Rezal, senior partner and Chief Executive Officer at REXPOCentral.
The Malaysian High Commissioner stated that nearly 900 students from the Sultanate are studying in Malaysia at present. He stated that affordable tuition costs, a low cost of living, good academic quality, and a growing reputation in worldwide rankings for higher education are some of the primary reasons for Bruneians to continue their education in Malaysia. In addition to mingling with university leaders, parents, and students, Dato’ Raja Reza also encouraged the attendees to select Malaysia as their study location. Yes2Malaysia expo was held from 3 pm to 7 pm at the Mulia Hotel.
According to the high commissioner, “This exhibition will assist Malaysia in meeting its target to enroll 250,000 international students by 2025. The Malaysian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam supports REXPOCentral’s initiative to hold this education fair in the Sultanate and fairs organized by other parties”. Dato’ Raja Reza also announced that airplane tickets to Kuala Lumpur were one of the primary incentives provided by REXPOCentral to students enrolling in Malaysian universities.
According to Ahmani bin Haji Ahmad, a parent who attended Yes2Malaysia, which is the recently concluded largest education fair in Brunei, the similarities in climate and culture between Brunei and Malaysia might be the reason why Bruneians want to study in Malaysia. He stated that the food is also one of the main reasons parents are confident in sending their children to Malaysian schools. Additionally, the majority of universities and institutions are authorized by the Ministry of Education. He further stated that the purpose of his visit to the expo was to find the best law school for his daughter, and added that few institutions were promising. He said, “If there is rezeki for my daughter to be accepted by one of the universities of her choice, then we will send her to Malaysia to pursue her studies. Choosing Malaysia is also an advantage as we can visit her more frequently”.
Another parent, Nor Iqa, wishes to send her daughter to Malaysia to pursue a foundation degree in medicine, and Malaysia has always been a top choice. She said, “One factor is that it is close to Brunei. The cost of living is quite low compared to Europe or Australia”. Being a first-time attendee, she was surprised by the number of prestigious Malaysian universities there. She added, “The universities are accredited by our government. We have found some universities that my daughter is eligible to enroll in. However, we need to check whether these universities are eligible for government scholarships or loans.” Nor Iqa, whose husband studied at the Limkokwing University in Malaysia, stated that following her daughter’s foundation course, she wishes for her to continue education in Malaysia.
