PM: No issues with university dialogues if prior info is given

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today that dialogue sessions can be held in universities in the country if prior information is provided and conditions set by the university authorities are met.

There are two conditions and these are: 1) Prior information must be given to the institution beforehand; and 2) The event should not disrupt campus harmony.

Anwar said this in response to a question from a student who had asked for the prime minister’s stance on ensuring the right to freedom for students.

The student referred to the recent fiasco where Muda president Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman was barred from taking part in a dialogue session scheduled to take place at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam.

However, according to Anwar, on-campus talks should not be barred but must adhere to the campus’ rules.

‘No disrupting harmony on campus’

“When we give these relaxations to allow people to come in, there have to be rules. You have to inform (about the event).

“Secondly, it has to be ensured that there are no elements of disrupting the harmony on campus. We will not tolerate that,” he said during a dialogue session with students at UiTM today.

Anwar drew the example of entering someone’s home where people are free to come in, but the person (house occupant) must be informed prior to an outsider’s entry.

Syed Saddiq being barred from entering the UiTM campus

Syed Saddiq claimed on March 28 that the university rejected an application to hold the dialogue session, organised by Muda affiliate Ikatan Mahasiswa Demokratik Malaysia, purportedly to maintain harmony within the campus.

He also accused UiTM of taking various actions to prevent the dialogue, titled “Interns are not Forced Labour”, from taking place.

However, Syed Saddiq still showed up at the university with an entourage on the night the dialogue was supposed to be held.

Syed Saddiq then held several rounds of negotiations with UiTM staffers and later told reporters present that the university had agreed to reschedule the dialogue session to a later date.

UiTM later admitted to receiving an application letter from Mahasiswa Demokratik Malaysia, but claimed that it was addressed to the wrong person - instead of UiTM vice-chancellor Roziah Mohd Janor.

Higher Education minister Khaled Nordin declared on April 1 that no party, including politicians, were barred from entering and holding programmes at public higher education institutions. - Mkini