Forty-two Government Overseas Scholarship recipients were presented with certificates of participation yesterday at the closing ceremony of the Islamic Religious Course for students who will be departing overseas for their studies at the Civil Service Institute in Kampong Rimba.

The course was coordinated by the Youth Centre of the Islamic Dakwah Centre, Ministry of Religious Affairs in collaboration with the Scholarship Section of the Ministry of Education.

Conducted from July 25 – 28, the course covered topics from fasting overseas, zakat, understanding of the Islamic faith, zikir, Jamak and Qasar prayers, and Halal food concept; faciliated by officers from the Dakwah Dissemination Section, Islamic Dakwah Centre.

According to Hajah Fatimah binti Haji Ahmad, the Head of Dakwah Dissemination Section, the course aimed to equip students with faith, observance and moral values as well as strengthen their knowledge of Islam.

Meanwhile, Awang Haji Azis bin Haji Nayan, Assistant Director (Scholarship), Ministry of Education (MoE) as guest of honour in his speech reminded them to show appreciation towards the government’s generosity in providing them with free education. “With about B$500,000 spent on each student to pursue higher education overseas, you are expected to come back upon completion of your studies to serve the county,” he added.

He also mentioned that currently, past cases are being reviewed and guarantors of previous overseas scholarship recipients who failed to return back to the country may be brought to court and will be required to pay back the amount spent on their education overseas.

The guest of honour added that the course will be able to produce pious, knowledgeable and quality graduates. He hoped that the course would also be extended to private students as well as recipients of non-government scholarships in the near future.

They were also reminded to be wary of Islamic religious classes particularly those conducted by foreign students to avoid from being influenced by deviant and extreme beliefs.