Bawani: Students forced to attend controversial forum

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) students from some of its residential colleges were compelled to attend the infamous Suara Wanita 1Malaysia (SW1M) forum under threat of expulsion, claims student KS Bawani (below).

Therefore, she said she is disappointed that the university had reportedly distanced itself from the event last month by saying that it merely provided the hall, where SW1M chairperson Sharifah Zohra Jabeen Syed Shah Miskin had berated her.

"The university said it was not involved, but many students were compelled to attend the programme... If it is not a university programme, why make it compulsory?" she said during an interview with Malaysiakiniyesterday. 

She said among those forced to attend were first year students from Proton Student Residential Hall (DPP Proton), which sponsored the event. 

She said she had seen similar complaints on Facebook from students of other residential halls as well, but is unsure which particular ones or the number of students affected.

Bawani added that she was not one of them but went there of her own volition. Some 2,000 students reportedly attended the event. 

The forum titled ‘Women in Politics' was held at UUM from around 10am to 1pm on Dec 8.

A 24-minute video of it, uploaded on Jan 9, quickly went viral, with many netizens condemning Sharifah (right) andadvertiserswere quick to pounce on the event, parodying her antics, earning  her the 'Kak Listen'  moniker.

Bawani hopes that the intense publicity generated would bring down the curtain on similar ‘brainwashing sessions' at institutes higher learning. 

Acting under false pretenses
Recounting the incident, she said she was already fed up with the function from the start. 

"The topic was about one thing but the story was another. All sorts of nonsense came out as if to condemn only one side.

"It was like brainwashing," she said, describing the emotions which drove her to the microphone. 

However, she was abruptly interrupted and told to "Listen" about 10 times before the microphone was snatched away, and Sharifah started browbeating her. 

"I pleaded ‘let me finish first' but she only raised her voice higher. People would think that a big shot is scolding and I should stop. This student should stop. I think Sharifah has put me in bad light; very rude," she said.

Even then, she said she hoped Sharifah would allow her to speak again, but Sharifah kept on, making her feel that it was no use standing up against her as there would still be no answer.

When asked, she replied that she did feel angry at the time as it is human nature. 

"But I controlled myself because I needed to respect her, too. People often say, ‘Give respect and take respect'," the law student said. 

After the incident, she said students were split between those sympathetic to her and those who felt that she had been rude, while others felt that both had been at fault.

However, it turned out that some students also shared her view that the forum was in fact a brainwashing session, but had kept their lips stitched then. 

"There is a problem is that we (students) are afraid of authority, such as the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA); afraid of action being taken against us. 

"Many wanted to speak, but because of restrictions such as UUCA, students preferred to play safe rather than voicing out. 

"Those who did not voice out dared to do so on Facebook. That means they have the guts but something is suppressing it," she said. 

However, when the video was released, she said those who initially condemned her apologised. 

"Sorry we didn't know. We only knew what really happened after watching the video. 

Gracious enough to apologise
"We could not imagine it when you (Bawani) told us the other day and we thought perhaps it was right that people say that you were rude. 

"After watching the programme, only then we knew why you behave like that," Bawani said, paraphrasing her friends. 

She said she had received calls and messages from friends expressing support,saying that they are proud of her. 

In addition, she received a call from Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah (right) with words of encouragement, and later met her. 

"I was happy to meet Saifuddin, he is someone who is open to receiving views. I feel good because I didn't expect a minister... he called me and I didn't expect that. He was very encouraging. 

"He said students should voice their views and room should be given for them to do so; there should be freedom of expression. So I was very happy to hear that from him," she said. 

Despite all the the attention, she stressed that she is not a hero and there are others who have done more for the country.

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The interview was jointly conducted by Abdul Rahim Sabri, Kow Gah Chie and Koh Jun Lin.