  We present a preparatory spectroscopic survey to identify radio-bright,
high-redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS). The
candidates have been selected on the basis of a single flux density limit at
1.4 GHz (>200 mJy) together with mid-infrared color criteria from the
Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). Through spectroscopic observations
using the Nordic Optical Telescope, we identify 72 quasars out of 99 candidates
targeted. We measure the spectroscopic redshifts based on characteristic, broad
emission lines present in the spectra. Of these 72 quasars, 64 and 48 objects
are at sufficiently high redshift (z>0.6 and z>1.4) to be used for the L-band
and UHF-band spectroscopic follow-up with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
precursor in South Africa: the MeerKAT.
