Local students should appreciate prosperous life they are enjoying - Permaisuri of Johor

JOHOR BAHRU, May 21 (Bernama) -- The Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah said local students should be more appreciative of the prosperous life they enjoy in the country.

Raja Zarith Sofiah said it was because of the peace and harmony in the country that foreign students, especially from countries at war and in armed conflict, such as Palestine, came to continue their studies.

She also expressed the need for relations between local and foreign students to be strengthened so that they could better understand the life challenges faced by students in other countries.

“They (foreign students) are our guests in our country and at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) campus here.

“Hopefully, with the friendship that has been forged, we will better understand them, the challenges of life they face, as well as better appreciate our life in Malaysia, and the prosperity that exists in our country,” sad Raja Zarith Sofiah,  who is UTM chancellor in her speech at 65th UTM Convocation here today.

Also present were the wife of the Tunku Mahkota of Johor,  Che’ Puan Besar Khaleeda Bustamam, who is the UTM pro-chancellor and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

Raja Zarith Sofiah said as the Royal Adviser of the Malaysian Red Crescent, she always received information on current developments and problems facing the people in countries with armed conflict, famine, drought, storms, natural disasters, earthquakes, political instability or social problems.

She said apart from the current war in Ukraine, the recent death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aklehin in Palestine was also a shocking news.

“For us, here in the East, what shocked us the most was the shooting of the Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh. To the Palestinian students, who will be receiving their doctorates this morning, I would like to offer you and the Palestinian people my deepest sympathy,” she said.

A total of 5,672 UTM graduates are scheduled to receive their degree and diploma scrolls during the 14 sessions of the 65th convocation being held from today until May 28.

-- BERNAMA