PETALING JAYA, Nov 27 — A college in Kuala Lumpur, accused by Women’s Force Association (Tenaganita) of having cheated more than 400 students from India and Nepal, denied all the accusations made against it yesterday.

The Malay Mail visited the college and spoke with its academic, marketing and legal representatives, who, however, did not want to be identified.

All three of them said they were surprised after receiving calls from various media publications after the press conference on Monday, as they were not aware or informed by Tenaganita beforehand.

The three expressed their disappointment with Tenaganita for having the press conference without their consent, and without doing a thorough investigation before making the accusations.

The academic spokesman said that in the first case, the college did not even have 400 students. He then explained to The Malay Mail reporter each case in detail and in a calm manner.

“Rojani Risal and Rajni Karia’s entry into Malaysia was not in October of last year, as they had claimed on Monday. They both arrived this year, even after being informed that their classes will commence in November because they had missed the October intake,” he said.

“They also entered the country with a student visa, not a work visa. They arrived at 2am, not 9pm. Proper accommodation was provided within two days, not two weeks.

“They arrived a month earlier than their intake. Our hostel rooms were full, but we provided them with the hostel’s hall room with beds. They did not sleep in the lobby.

The academic spokesman added that both girls had already started classes, but hardly showed up and were untraceable until they appeared in yesterday’s papers.

“A few days after their arrival, Risal and Karia stormed into the student affairs office, bringing along a group of their friends. They demanded a refund as they were unhappy there wasn’t a job waiting for them.

“The clerk then explained the procedures to them and both the girls said they might as well leave the country. The clerk replied by saying that it would take two to three weeks for Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) to return their passports. They began shouting and yelling aloud, finally storming out of the office and were not seen back at the college or hostel again,” he said.

The academic spokesman then showed The Malay Mail reporter all registration documents, photocopied passports as well as their immigration visas, proving that both girls had made up false stories and accusations.

‘Student rarely seen in classes’

In regards to Faheem Khan’s case, the marketing spokesman along with the legal adviser stated that Faheem has given false information about his experiences during the course.

“Cruise Management students have to go a four-month theory and practical course before entering their six-month internship programme.

“All courses are designated to teach them vocational skills, like maritime and nautical terminology, as well as hospitality,” said the marketing spokesman.

She added that a certificate of completion will be awarded after each course, including their six-month internship period.

She also added that Neil Maxwell-Keys is a renowned cruise trainer from UK, and the college provides a practical online course in which if students pass, they will receive his certificate of completion from UK.

The legal adviser said that Faheem had been attending courses for the first four months, and received certificates of completion, not a diploma as he stated in the press conference.

“However, he was rarely seen in classes. During his internship programme, he often complained of the places that we’ve tried to arrange for him.

“Within two hours of being at work, he left the first establishment. He only worked less than 48 hours for the second, and was fired from the third establishment.”

The marketing spokesman also pointed out that 80 students from Faheem’s intake had graduated and obtained jobs at various cruise companies. Others from the course, like Faheem, dropped out from losing interest or found the course unsatisfying.

“Students are given the option to continue their studies if they wish to. But if they’ve decided to return home, we will shorten their visa timeline and have them returned to their home country,” said the academic spokesman.

In regards to Faheem’s Consumer Tribunal case, the college had appealed to the High Court for a review session.

And the High Court upheld the decision of the Consumer Tribunal, based on the fact that the standard procedures for appeal was carried out correctly.

Nothing is finalised till this moment as the college is still waiting for a response from the High Court on their appeals.

“We prepared everything for Faheem, A to Z. Unfortunately he did not manage to complete the entire course and is now accusing us for scam,” said the academic spokesman.

The spokesman also showed The Malay Mail reporter that he has received threat messages from Faheem during his displeasure with the college’s internship programmes.

When the marketing spokesman contacted Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernendez for more information and confirmation, Fernandez only replied with: “You should know better. He was the one who went to the High Court and won the case.”

The marketing spokesman then tried to get details of complaints that were made but Fernandez said: “I wouldn’t know all that information.”