Umno Youth to set up clubs on university campuses soon: Asyraf

Umno Youth will formalise its presence in local universities through the setting up of its official club on campus, according to its chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Asyraf said the "Umno University Students Club" will be launched on Dec 6 by party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during the wing's upcoming general assembly.

"We hope there will be no resistance from the universities," he said during a press conference at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Asyraf (above, centre), who earlier chaired an Umno Youth exco meeting, said the matter was discussed as part of the movement's efforts to engage youths, particularly in light of the lowering of the voting age to 18 years.

He claimed the move was also necessary as many youths were increasingly unhappy with Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

Quizzed on whether Umno Youth was prepared to face resistance from the government over its foray into campuses, Asyraf said: "We will take to the streets and demonstrate."

"Because the University and University Colleges Act now allows it.

"So if they (the government) doesn't allow it then they are going against the law and also going against what they fought for all this while, the rights of students to be politically active," said Asyraf who was flanked by all his exco members.

"If they don't allow it then we in Umno Youth will not hesitate to take to the streets in protest.

"Our only difference is that we will not be sleeping on the streets," he said.

Asyraf said the Umno Youth exco meeting today, the ninth for this year, had discussed BN's victory in the recent Tanjung Piai by-election.

He noted that for the series of by-elections held since the general election last year, cooperation among BN component parties was now at its strongest level. - Mkini