Epsom College in Nilai to open in 2012 NILAI: Epsom College, Malaysias first British-styled boarding school, will open

its doors in September 2012 and provide its 1,000-odd students with a British curriculum taught in English. The 157-year-old establishments first sister college outside England would be built on a 20ha site at Bandar Enstek near here as part of the Kuala Lumpur Education City (KLEC) project. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who performed the ground-breaking ceremony yesterday, said he was privileged to welcome Epsom College to Malaysia. Thanks to our conducive socio-economic environment, progressive business climate and able political leadership, Malaysia is becoming an increasingly popular destination for many international students from Asia and from as far as the Middle East and Africa, he said. Muhyiddin said Malaysia was already the 11th largest education centre with about 90,000 international students from more than 100 countries. Epsom College was set up in the south-east of England in 1857 and was then known as the Royal Medical Benevolent College. Its aim was to help orphans and widows of members of the medical profession pursue their education in medicine. Epsom College board of governors chairman Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, who is an alumnus, said the college involved an investment of RM140mil. Whats to come: Muhyiddin (second from right) being briefed by Fernandes on the Epsom College model after performing the ground-breaking ceremony in Bandar Enstek Monday. Looking on are Borthwick and Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. Appeal Sir Anthony McCowan, geographer Sir Halford John Mackinder, British Secret Intelligence Service head Sir John Scarlett, professional golfer Ross MacGowan, actor Stewart Granger, Razvan Orasanu from Romania, who went on to become Europes youngest minister, and TuneAir Hotel Group CEO Mark Lankester. Fernandes added that 75% of the schools academic staff will come from the United Kingdom. He said those who enrolled at Epsom College Malaysia would pay about 40% less in fees compared to their peers in Britain. He said the college hoped to attract students from the South-East Asian region, adding it had a proud legacy and had produced numerous personalities who have made immense contributions in various fields, particularly medicine. Among its alumni, or better known as Old Epsomians, were Britains former Lord Justice of We do not know for certain yet but they should be paying between RM60,000 and RM70,000 annually, he said. Epsom College UK headmaster Stephen Borthwick said they were happy to set up operations here and give the college a bigger international profile.