The Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) is launching a crowdfunding campaign to mount a legal challenge against the Higher Education Ministry’s concert guidelines for institutions of higher learning.
This is despite its minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s statement that he has yet to approve the guidelines.
“Although Higher Education Minister Khaled claimed that the guidelines have not been approved, there has been no announcement of the guideline withdrawal written in black and white.
“Therefore, students are still currently bound by the unreasonable guideline, and the universities will have the right to use the guidelines to regulate or even dismiss students’ concert-related activities,” Umany said in a statement last night.
Therefore, the group said it will press ahead with its plans to mount a judicial review and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to cover the cost of the litigation.
It urged members of the public to chip in to defend multiculturalism on campus and students’ freedom to organise activities.
It pledged to use all funds raised through the crowdfunding effort to fund the judicial review and it would make regular announcements on the funds to ensure openness and transparency.
“Never will Umany give in when defending society against actions of theocratic conservatism.
“We will adhere to our ideology and stand at the forefront to defend students’ rights and a progressive campus,” it said.
Gender segregation, modest dress code
On Aug 31, China Press reported that the ministry has produced the ‘Guidelines for Entertainment Activities (Concerts) in Higher Education Institutions’.
Among others, it reportedly calls for the audience of such concerts to be gender-segregated, with an additional section designated for families.
Attendees are required to follow a modest dress code, which prohibits the wearing of clothing featuring Illuminati, pro-LGBT, or pornographic symbols, as well as “punk” hairstyles.
Furthermore, artistes are restricted from cross-dressing or wearing attire that is typical of the opposite gender - for instance, male performers are prohibited from wearing earrings, bracelets, and shorts.
According to China Press, local higher education institutions received the guidelines on Aug 30.
The Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Sungai Long campus student representative council urged the government to rescind the guidelines as it restricts youths’ artistic expression.
In an earlier statement, Umany accused the government of using students as “sacrificial lambs” to appease conservative voters.
It also expressed concern that such restrictions can be easily extended to other campus activities such as stand-up comedy, debates, cultural exhibitions, and other forms of entertainment.
“Universities are ‘mini’ versions of our society. If the government dares to act recklessly within campuses today, it is only a matter of time before they spread their influence to engulf society, pressuring non-Muslim groups to compromise with conservative agendas.
“If so, Malaysia would be so much closer to the Taliban regime than we might have ever imagined,” Umany said.
According to The Star, the Higher Education Ministry said a review of the guidelines will be conducted collaboratively between the Higher Education Department and Universiti Malaya Cultural Council.
The ministry also clarified that the guidelines were implemented to safeguard and promote a peaceful atmosphere for students and the campus community during events. - Mkini
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