Ditch proposed rules on political activities, student groups tell MOHE

 

Student groups handed a memorandum to the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) opposing new guidelines being drafted to restrict political activities on campus.

The memorandum says the guidelines being drafted are unreasonable and would violate the political freedom of the students.

"Those regulations contradict Undi 18, which the government often trumpeted, as well as with the Federal Constitution and Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA), which had been amended to ensure the political freedom of students," the memorandum states.

The groups reminded the government that Section 15(2)(c) of the UUCA has been repealed, and thus the guidelines would be ultra vires or invalid as an attempt to add restrictions which are not allowed by the UUCA itself.

In the memorandum, they also highlighted the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 still prohibited students from joining organisations off campus and showing solidarity towards any association, political party or organisation.

The student groups then urged the MOHE to:

1. Withdraw the guidelines being drafted

2. Repeal the UUCA and Private Higher Educational Institutions Act

3. Ensure political freedom of students

University Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president Liau Pin Chun said the memorandum was received by Higher Education Ministry Holistic University Student Department director Mohd Sharil Abdullah, who promised to forward the document to Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad.

Umany president Liau Pin Chun (centre)

According to Liau, Mohd Sharil explained that the previous town hall session served to gather feedback from stakeholders while promising to pass on their opinions to the committee responsible for drafting the guidelines.

However, she said, the groups made their stand clear for the guidelines to be withdrawn rather than amended.

"We asked the MOHE to withdraw the guidelines rather than to perfect them. Varsity students are legally adults, and as members of society, we should have political freedom just like anyone else.

"We see no reasonable grounds to add more shackles on us just because we are students," she said.

Liau stressed that the groups would hold a press conference outside Parliament to press on this issue if the ministry failed to withdraw the guidelines before the next parliamentary session at the end of October.

On Aug 15, the ministry held a town hall session with student unions and representatives from universities and colleges to discuss the proposed guidelines.

The proposed guidelines state that written permission from the university is needed if the students want to hold political activities - whether online, face-to-face or both - on campus.

The university has the right to reject such applications or to withdraw issued permission if the student activity is deemed inappropriate.

Students are also not allowed to set up any branch or division for political parties on campus.

This memorandum is signed by:

Umany

Kesatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (KMUM)

Kesatuan Pelajar Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (KPUIAM)

Demokrat UM

Angkatan Mahasiswa UM

Demokrat UKM

Malaysia Youths and Students Evolution (MYSE)

Persatuan Belia Harmoni Malaysia (Harmoni)

Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM)

Suara Mahasiswa UMS

Mahasiswa Amanah Nasional

Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia

Idealis Mahasiswa UTHM

Secretariat of Political Science IIUM (POSSA)

Congress IIUM

TARANY

SRC UTAR Sungai Long Campus

Voice of Youtharian

Student Progressive Front UUM

New Students Movement Alliance of Malaysia (NESA)

New Era University College Student Union (NEUCSU)

Kolektif Sosialis Universiti Malaya (KSUM)

Mahasiswa Roket

The memorandum was signed by:

UMANY

Kesatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (KMUM)

Kesatuan Pelajar Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (KPUIAM)

Demokrat UM

Angkatan Mahasiswa UM

Demokrat UKM

Malaysia Youths and Students Evolution (MYSE)

Persatuan Belia Harmoni Malaysia (HARMONI)

Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM)

Suara Mahasiswa UMS

Mahasiswa Amanah Nasional

Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia

Idealis Mahasiswa UTHM

Secretariat of Political Science IIUM (POSSA)

Congress IIUM

Tarany

SRC UTAR Sungai Long Campus

Voice of Youtharian

Student Progressive Front UUM

New Students Movement Alliance of Malaysia (NESA)

New Era University College Student Union (NEUCSU)

Kolektif Sosialis Universiti Malaya (KSUM)

Mahasiswa Roket

- Mkini