Universiti Malaya today stated that student groups must obtain prior approval before holding forums on campus, following controversy over a recent anti-corruption event that organisers claimed was disrupted.
Its vice-chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman said that the university has never opposed discussions, but stressed that such activities must comply with established procedures to ensure harmony on campus.
“If students or anyone, for that matter, want to organise discussion (events), we do not bar them.
“In fact, we ask them to request these matters from the parties involved, such as the deputy vice-chancellor of student affairs,” Azuan (above) told Malaysiakini when met at the university.
He added that while UM has a long-standing tradition of intellectual discourse, Azuan said the institution’s priority is to maintain harmony “at its highest level”.
Earlier, a student-led forum on integrity and anti-corruption was forced to relocate after its initially planned location near Dewan Tunku Canselor (DTC) was sealed off by campus auxiliary police.
New Gen UM president Lennards John Johnson told Malaysiakini that seeking permission from the university proved futile and claimed that attempts to secure approvals are often unsuccessful.
He added that despite submitting applications and supporting documents for venues, requests are frequently rejected, leaving organisers with little choice but to proceed without official approval.
The dispute underscores growing tensions between the university’s stated commitment to open discourse and the way its rules are enforced in practice.
Ministry aware of the issue
Meanwhile, Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim said that while the ministry did not have full details of the incident, it was aware of the event due to developments on social media.
“We will always look for ways to ensure that students are guaranteed the space to speak, express themselves, and engage in discussions,” Adam told Malaysiakini.
He added that the ministry had recently engaged with university authorities to ensure such activities could proceed smoothly.
“For example, just two days ago, we reached out and engaged with some universities, and they gave assurances that there is actually no issue as long as there is an agreement between student representatives and the administration,” he added.
Adam also expressed hope that student discussions would involve broader participation, expressing hope that more inclusive and balanced discussions can be encouraged across the board. - Mkini
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