Keep to your word, HRP tells PM

HRP is raising a storm over public universities ignoring a government directive for a longer Deepavali break.

PETALING JAYA: The Human Rights Party (HRP) wants Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak, to put his money where his mouth is in ensuring Indian university students are granted a longer holiday for Deepavali.

During the launch of the 1Malaysia Indian Students Movement in University Malaya on July 27, Najib had announced that adjustments would be made to universities curriculum and schedule to enable Indian students to return home for Deepavali.

A circular from the Ministry of Higher Education followed this announcement and directed public universities to provide a longer break for Deepavali from Oct 25 to 28. Deepavali falls on Oct 26.

But according to HRP that directive has been largely ignored by a number of universities which have only exempted Indian students from attending lectures rather than declare those three days as festive holidays.

In an open letter to Najib, HRP’s pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar, named Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) as among those defying the directive.

“UKM’s deputy vice chancellor, Professor Noor Azlan Ghazali, even told the student leader, Kok Kiong Lum, that there are too many holidays in Malaysia,” he stated.

“He said that even Hari Raya and Chinese New Year holidays are only two days long so it is only fair that just one day be given for Deepavali.”

Uthayakumar further said that UNIMAS and UMS were conducting lectures on Deepavali day itself as it isn’t a public holiday in East Malaysia.

“The Indian students there must also be given the opportunity to return home and be with their families on this auspicious day,” he said.

Bad implementation

On another note, Uthayakumar pointed out that vegetarian food and university bus services to nearby Hindu temples each Friday as directed by Najib has also been ignored by universities.

He questioned whether this was part of a “good government policy, bad implementation” political gimmick.

In calling on Najib to intervene in both matters, Uthayakumar pushed not only for a longer Deepavali break but one that is an additional four days more than previously announced.

“We hereby call upon your goodself, in the true spirit of 1Malaysia, to issue a government directing all public and private universities and schools nationwide to grant a one week holiday from Oct

24 to 28 as has been granted for Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Christmas for every year in the future,” he said.