KUALA LUMPUR - The afternoon air in Gombak hung heavy with humidity as 19-year-old Muhammad Falih Mursal walked through the green slopes of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) for the first time.

Just three weeks earlier, he had been in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, packing his bags, surrounded by his mother’s cooking and his father’s quiet encouragement.

Now, the hills of Gombak were home, at least for the next few years, and Falih was learning what it meant to live abroad while staying close to home.

“I chose to continue my studies in Malaysia because my parents really wanted me to study at IIUM,” he said, recalling how his family and friend’s support made the move easier.

For his parents, sending their son across the border was not just about education, but about opening a window to the world.

“I believe we should start with the nearest step, and for me it is Malaysia, a way to begin seeing the world,” he said, repeating a phrase he now holds as his personal motto.

Shared Roots, New Opportunities

Malaysia has long drawn young Indonesians seeking a balance between quality education and cultural familiarity.

It is a place where the language flows easily across campus corridors, halal food is never hard to find, and the call to prayer marks the rhythm of student life.

For Falih, who is pursuing a degree in Halal Industry Management, the attraction was clear: an international environment that still feels like home.

“I found many similarities in culture, food and language. Nasi lemak feels like nasi uduk, and people here greet each other the same way we do back home,” he told Migrant Times.

According to Malaysia’s Higher Education Ministry, roughly 50,000 Indonesian students are currently enrolled across public and private universities, forming one of the largest international student communities in the country.

The appeal lies in proximity and comfort, a global experience that doesn’t feel foreign.

At IIUM, where students from more than 100 countries study side by side, many Indonesians say Malaysia offers the right mix of familiarity and diversity.

Policy, Numbers and Ambition

Malaysia’s education strategy has evolved in recent years, aiming to make the country a regional hub for learning.

By 2026, the government hopes to host 250,000 international students, with Indonesia expected to remain the biggest source.

For students like Falih, the opportunity comes with both promise and cost.

“Honestly, the fees are much higher compared to Indonesia.

“I don’t receive any scholarship or government assistance,” he added, explaining how he manages his expenses as a self-funded student.

However, Falih said his daily living costs remain manageable since he stays in the Mahallah dormitory, where he only needs to budget for food and other basic needs.

Despite the financial challenges, Falih says the transition has been made smoother by a close-knit network of Indonesian students.

At IIUM, he is part of the Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia (PPI), a campus organisation that helps new arrivals find friends, food, and familiarity.

“I often interact with Indonesian students at IIUM and even from other universities, we have one big community,” he said.

These networks not only ease homesickness but also reflect the growing people-to-people ties between Malaysia and Indonesia, strengthened through education and exchange.

Building Community Abroad

When homesickness strikes, Falih video-calls his parents every weekend from his dorm room, updating them about his classes and new friends.

The one-hour time difference took some adjusting, as he quoted that “time was the hardest part,” — but within weeks, he found his rhythm.

“So far I haven’t faced any serious problems. I’m still learning what I need to do here as a new student,” the nineteen-year-old boy said.

Across campuses, such communities are helping turn Malaysia’s universities into microcosms of Southeast Asia.

Here, students from Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines live side by side, forming bonds that may one day shape regional cooperation beyond classrooms.

Beyond the Border

Cross-border education is quietly weaving a new fabric of ASEAN connection, where friendships and shared experiences bridge nations faster than policy can.

As Malaysia evolves from hosting Middle Eastern and African students to becoming a hub for its ASEAN neighbours, stories like Falih’s are becoming increasingly common.

For many, Malaysia is not a distant foreign land, it is the nearest step toward a bigger world.

Falih still walks the same path to class each morning, passing palm trees and listening to the mix of accents that fill the IIUM campus.

He often thinks of home, but he also knows he has begun something new.

“At least we start from the nearest step to see the world,” he said, which is a small step that, for him, already feels like a giant one.