PARLIAMENT | Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Ind-Muar) questioned government leaders today if they agreed with the Higher Education Ministry’s decision to maintain the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA).
He first asked Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal if he agreed with a law that prevented tertiary students from voicing their political views.
“How can you carry out Undi18 (initiatives) and bring political awareness when youth inside and outside the country have their voices restricted? What is your view on this?” Syed Saddiq posed during the Minister's Question Time segment.
This after the deputy minister shared the ministry’s list of programmes aimed at raising political literacy among youths following last year’s move to lower the voting age to 18.
“I give my assurance that I will help increase cooperation with other ministries so we understand the importance of raising youth participation in politics, regardless of whether UUCA is amended or not,” he answered.
Wan Fayhsal was formerly Syed Saddiq’s aide when the latter was the youth and sports minister during the Pakatan Harapan administration.
Last month, the Higher Education Ministry said it was scrapping the former government’s plan to abolish the controversial UUCA as the act remained “relevant”.
PAS backed 2018 amendments
Later, when the Dewan Rakyat was debating the Budget 2020 Reallocation Bill, Syed Saddiq stood up during Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman’s (PAS-Sik) turn to ask if he agreed with keeping UUCA in its present form.
“Do you agree with the government of the day’s position that it will not review the UUCA - (a law) that restricts youth from every party?
“I hope YB will agree that UUCA should be reviewed and reformed no matter who the government of the day is,” Syed Saddiq said.
Maszlee Malik (Ind-Simpang Renggam), who tabled the UUCA amendments back when he was the education minister, also stood up to pressure the PAS politician for his position on the law.
Following some back-and-forth between Maszlee and Tarmizi, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PAS-Pasir Mas) reminded the Dewan Rakyat that all MPs, including those from PAS, had unanimously agreed to amend the UUCA back in 2018.
The amendments had allowed tertiary students to participate in political activities on campus.
After earlier saying that the law was needed to help administrate higher learning institutes, despite his party’s “consistent” support for youth participation in politics, Tarmizi now agreed with his party compatriot.
“As Pasir Mas said, it is clear and it has been recorded in the history of this House that we amended UUCA and PAS fully supported it.
“There is no question about us turning back (from our position),” he said. - Mkini
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