KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's New Era College (NEC) said on Saturday that it planned to extend its assistance to poor Chinese students from China and Southeast Asian Countries.

 

NEC's Principal Pua Eng Chong told Xinhua after attending the carnival attended by local students and students sponsored by China's Project Hope.

 

Pua said that it had been the practice of the NEC to help needy Chinese students to excel in the tertiary education.

 

While the NEC was awaiting approval from Malaysian Higher Education Ministry to recruit international students, Pua assured that the NEC would provide to poor Chinese students in some forms.

 

Believing that the NEC could start recruiting international students next year, Pua said the initial intake would be between 10 to 15 people.

 

This was to ensure that any issues arising from the intake could be dealt with easier with a smaller number of international students at the beginning.

 

The NEC is a college established by the Malaysians of Chinese origin in Malaysia. Currently it has about 1,500 students with eight faculties and 20 odd courses.

 

Commenting on the carnival where some 200 students and teachers from China and Malaysia shared a two-hour memorable gathering, the excited Pua said he hoped more students from China would visit Malaysia.

 

This would not only promote understanding between the two nations but also pave ways for mutual assistance.