KUALA LUMPUR: British High Commissioner Ailsa Terry said the United Kingdom remains a safe destination for Malaysian students to further their studies amid far-right protests in various parts of the country since last week.
She said the recent incidents of unrest were perpetrated by a small group of 'mindless minority' of rioters and Prime Minister Keir Starmer had been clear that rioters will face the full force of the law.
"This includes action against online actors. Far right hatred has no places in our communities.
"I want to reassure Malaysian students that the UK remains a safe destination," she said in a statement.
She said under the new Labour government, the UK will continue to give a warm welcome to international students.
Terry noted that at the recent Embassy Education Conference in London, Bridget Philipson, the Secretary of State for Education, also made clear that the UK values and wants more international students.
"The Education secretary highlighted that the new government not only values the contribution of international students to our universities but also the contribution they make to our communities, our culture and to our country.
"This goes hand in hand with UK university policies that embody principles of equality, diversity and inclusion across the board," she said.
The recent unrest in the UK follows a knife attack in Southport, where three girls were killed, leading to false claims online that the suspect was a Muslim immigrant.
These claims sparked protests and riots in several UK cities, resulting in more than 50 injured officers and widespread property damage.
Previously, Starmer described the escalating violence as "far-right thuggery".
On Sunday (Aug 4), Starmer warned far-right protesters they would regret their actions, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pledged that those who caused chaos would face "a reckoning".
She said that all involved would "pay the price for their crimes" across various offences, including looting, arson, disorder, violence, and social media incitement.