KUALA LUMPUR – The Harvard Club of Malaysia, comprising alumni of the prestigious Harvard University, has voiced its support for the institution’s stand against the Trump administration’s move to bar the enrolment of international students – a policy expected to affect both current and prospective Malaysian students.
“As Harvard alumni, we will rise up to the challenge to promote global intellectual and cultural exchange and ensure that our Malaysian students are inspired to achieve their hopes and dreams”, said the club president Khoo Eu Wen.
The university said that the move by the Trump administration, which affects thousands of students, was illegal and amounted to retaliation.
“We at the Harvard Club of Malaysia fully support our alma mater’s stand and affirm our commitment to openness, inquiry, and service – principles that not only define Harvard, but also our enduring role in society,” the club said in a statement.
“We are confident that the university's ongoing commitment to its values, globalism, the rule of law, and the betterment of humanity will continue to stand it in good stead, whatever the political winds of the day.”
Club deputy president Krishnavenee Krishnan said the association is deeply concerned for Malaysian students at the Ivy League university, who are bright individuals with much to offer not only to Malaysia, but also to the US and the world.
“They should not be robbed of their opportunity to receive a world-class education and to make world-class contributions,” she added.
The crackdown marks a significant escalation in the administration’s campaign against Harvard, following the university’s refusal to provide information requested by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about certain international student visa holders.
The US Homeland Security Department (DHS) has since been ordered to terminate Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Programme certification.
In a statement, Noem accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party”, Reuters reported.
In addition to barring new international admissions, the move would force existing students to transfer to other institutions or risk losing their legal status – with threats to expand the crackdown to other universities.
Earlier, Perikatan Nasional (PN) criticised the Trump administration’s decision, with its education portfolio chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah calling it “uncivilised”, stressing that universities are institutions of knowledge that “cherish the values of truth and justice”.
The former deputy higher education minister and foreign minister also urged Malaysia’s Higher Education Ministry to promptly engage with Malaysian students at Harvard and other US universities to ensure their welfare is safeguarded.
Meanwhile, Khoo, when contacted by Scoop, said that the alumni are pulling the club's resources together to offer support to any affected Malaysian students.
"The club is coordinating these efforts and rest assured will ensure that our students are taken care of when the need arises," he added.
Asked about the club's view on how Putrajaya should address this problem on a diplomatic level, he said that the club is working with the relevant parties to address this issue. – May 23, 2025
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