UUCA: Kedah MB out of sync with rakyat, says Aliran

Pro-reform NGO Aliran today accused Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak of being "out of sync with the rest of the country" in supporting the suspension of five students under the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).

"With the exception of the BN, the rakyat... are clamouring for greater academic freedom and democratic rights.

"In clamouring for that freedom, they want the obnoxious UUCA to be done away with," its secretary Mustafa K Anuar said in a statement.

Defending the right of the five from state-owned Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) to demonstrate against the use of a religious teaching block to house a smart school, Aliran called their protest as within their democratic right to publicly express opinions about issues of the day.
 
"Azizan's action not only blatantly violates the notion of academic freedom and freedom of expression, but also flies in the face of Pakatan Rakyat's consensus in opposing the oppressive UUCA," stressed Mustafa.
 
Aliran believe that Azizan’s condoning the use of UUCA to punish students for their legitimate stand on an issue raises the question of Pakatan’s sincerity and honesty in wanting to abolish the UUCA, which it has consistently opposed and condemned.

Azizan’s deed, the NGO claimed, doesn’t seem to match that pledge.
 
Aliran called upon Azizan to reconsider his official stand on this matter, in line with Pakatan’s stated position that the UUCA will be abolished when it comes to power.