Al-Azhar University will open a temporary branch campus in Nilai, Negri Sembilan by admitting its first intake of 300 students in September next year, said Second Education Minister Idris Jusoh.

He said the opening of the campus would enable Muslim students in Asia as a whole and South-East Asia in particular an opportunity to pursue studies at Al-Azhar in Malaysia.

“This will enable students to gain admission to Al-Azhar without having to go to Egypt.

“It reflects Al-Azhar’s recognition of Malaysia as an Islamic country and our capability of hosting the campus,” he told reporters on arrival from Cairo together with 277 Malaysian students in Sepang today.

Al-Azhar University is building its first permanent international campus outside Egypt in Rembau, Negri Sembilan. It will have a total intake of 10,000 students pursuing Usuluddin, Syariah (Islamic law) and Arabic courses.

Idris said the opening of the Al-Azhar international branch campus was not due to upheaval in Egypt, but was planned several years ago.

“Actually, many countries are keen to host an Al-Azhar branch campus, but Malaysia was favoured due to its Islamic development and moderate leadership in line with the wasatiyyah concept,” he said.

On the status of Malaysian students in Egypt, he said a repeat examination for 1,200 students would be held at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang in early September.

He said the Education Ministry was making arrangements to conduct certain courses in Malaysia in one or two months’ time to ensure that the students would not lag behind in their studies.

On the fate of two Malaysia students held in an Egyptian prison for breaking a curfew, Idris said they might be released soon.

- Bernama