AATC withdraws dismissal of two student union leaders

The Allied Aeronautics Training Centre (AATC) has withdrawn its decision to expel two students who had headed an allegedly illegal student union to protest against their institute's management.

AATC Student Union (AATCSU) in a statement said the decision was reached at a meeting with Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran in Putrajaya this morning, together with representatives from AATC's management and four parents (above).

"AATC will immediately withdraw the dismissal letters issued to AACTSU's chairperson and secretary and allow them to continue their studies as usual," said AACTSU in a statement.

AACTSU was formed by students unhappy with what they claimed to be the private training centre's "broken promise" to secure government loans for their studies and instead pushing them to take personal loans from a private bank.

Following the meeting today, AACTSU said they were promised assistance to secure loans through the Skills Development Fund Corporation under the Human Resources Ministry.

"AACTSU has also urged the ministry to ensure that AACT students forced to drop out due to their inability to settle their fees be allowed to resume their studies," it said.

The AATC had initially claimed it was illegal for the students to form a union and the dispute between the students and management culminated with the expulsion of two AACTSU leaders.

AACTSU on Monday led a protest outside AATC's complex in Petaling Jaya. (above).

Seven students, along with AACTSU advisor Sharan Raj, were later arrested for obstructing public servants.

AACTSU said Sharan, who accompanied them to Putrajaya today, had agreed to a request by the management to not participate in the meeting.

AACT's management had previously claimed that Sharan, who is a PSM central committee member, had incited its students and this they said had led to the arrests.

A law firm representing AACT had previously maintained it was fully entitled under the law to expel the two students for a clear breach of their agreements with the private training centre. - Mkini