What Makes Malaysia Safe for International Students?

Are you worried about your safety before moving to a new country?

 Are you asking yourself the question, is Malaysia safe for international students or not? 

You are not alone, and we are here to tell you the facts behind why Malaysia is known for being a safe and secure place for international students to pursue their studies. 

Peacefulness Across The Country

Malaysia is popular for its peacefulness, making it a desired destination for international students.

Ranked as the 3rd most peaceful country in Southeast Asia and 10th in the world, Malaysia has a generally calm environment. 

Check out this article written by TheStar news on Malaysia's global safety ranking. 

The streets and public areas are safe, with low levels of violent crime, especially in urban centers.

The country generally has stable political grounds, which leads to low crime rates, and solid law enforcement.

According to global metrics, Malaysia’s crime rate was 0.00 in the year 2022, which shows a 100% decline from the year before.

Similarly, The Malaysian government also employs measures to ensure the well-being of all international students. All these elements contribute to the country’s safety and security. 

How Is Malaysia Safe for International Students?

Now that we briefly introduced general reasons that contribute to the country’s safety and security for international students, let’s move on to more detailed facts as to how is Malaysia safe for international students:

1. Government Support for International Students

The main body of support for international students is EMGS - Education Malaysia Global Services, which is a government agency that handles all matters related to the entry and exit of students to Malaysia.

EMGS ensures that students secure the right visa documents to adhere to the law, as well as monitoring health insurance plans for the students so they do not fear for their health or any emergencies. 

Know more about the role of EMGS in this article.

2. Campus Safety and Security

University campuses in Malaysia are equipped with advanced CCTV cameras to monitor all movement inside the premises. Any emergencies that the students report will directly be checked through CCTV. 

Moreover, all campus gates are controlled by government security guards to observe the movement into and out of campus.

3. Cultural and Religious Harmony

Malaysia embraces an overall sense of wholesome cultural diversity and religious acceptance. This happens as a result of different ethnic groups living together such as the Malays, Indians, and Chinese. 

The Malaysian government also emphasizes policies that include the rights of all people, be it locals or internationals. These emphasis ensure respect to different races, religions, and nationalities. 

4. Safe accommodation

Not only are apartments and condominiums in Malaysia convenient and budget-friendly, they are also incredibly safe. 

The accommodation safety comes as a result of strict access control at the entrances. 

Residents at the accommodation facilities get exclusive access cards to enter the building, while visitors and strangers are not allowed to enter unless accompanied by the resident.

As for on-campus university accommodation safety in Malaysia, the student dorms and hostels are under CCTV surveillance. Each entrance and each floor is under CCTV control to ensure nothing out of conduct happens in the facility.

For more information regarding on-campus and off-campus student accommodation, you can check out our article that compares the 2 options for you. 

5. Mandatory Student Health Insurance

Student health is taken seriously in Malaysia, as it is compulsory for international students entering Malaysia or living in Malaysia to have health insurance coverage.

Student health insurance guarantees the safety of the students; health in case of any medical emergencies or accidents.

The insurance companies cover medical expenses and treatments according to the type of insurance plan the student has.

Tip of the day: Be sure to get familiar with the different insurance packages and plans provided by your insurance company.

Testimonials from Existing Students in Malaysia

‌ We asked students who lived in Malaysia for over 5+ years what their opinion was on the question: is Malaysia safe for international students? Here’s what they said:

“As a young female who is a foreigner, I feel totally safe studying in Malaysia. 

In fact, I have never experienced any situation in my university or in public where I felt uncomfortable, and I have lived in the country for 6 years. 

I appreciate that my university and the people of Malaysia value my safety as much as I do” - International student from Egypt

Looking to Know More About Studying in Malaysia?

Now that you may have the answer to the question, is Malaysia safe for international students… We welcome you to study in Malaysia and embrace the Asian experience.

YourUni education consultancy is the leading agency to register international students in Malaysian institutions. 

Get in touch with YourUni educational consultants now and get all you need to know about living and studying in Malaysia.