No political party branches will be allowed in universities - Khaled

 

PARLIAMENT | The Higher Education Ministry will not allow political parties to set up their branches in public universities in the country, said minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

In his winding-up speech at the Dewan Rakyat this evening, Khaled said this was because many had objected to the idea.

“I welcome the issue raised by Langkawi (Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah) about parties setting up branches in universities.

“Many had agreed that it is something that should not be done, and it is unreasonable to have political party branches in universities.

“Thus, I took that as a resolution that is accepted by everyone. And I hereby give my assurance that there will be no political party branches set up in universities,” he said.

Earlier, Suhaimi (Perikatan Nasional-Langkawi) in his debate speech quoted a news article about the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Students’ Association objecting to the idea of allowing political parties to set foot in university campuses.

Khaled’s remark, however, seemed to be a U-turn from his earlier statement in Parliament.

On March 2, he reportedly said that the Higher Education Ministry was considering allowing political parties to set up branches in universities.

“Previously, amendments with regard to student freedom and university management have been carried out. Among them, we have allowed university students to join political parties whether inside or outside campus and allowed them to contest as candidates in general elections,” he said, as quoted by the New Straits Times.

He reportedly said this in his response to a question by Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (PN-Mersing), who wanted to know if the government plans to amend the University and University Colleges Act to allow political parties to set up branches in universities.

In August last year, the ministry, then under Noraini Ahmad as its minister, drafted a guideline under the Act to regulate students who are involved in politics on and off campus.

According to the drafted guideline that Malaysiakini sighted, students are not allowed to set up any branch or division for political parties on their campus.

The guideline had received pushback from student groups, who regarded it as unreasonable and would violate the political freedom of students. - Mkini