As the second reading of the amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) in the Dewan Rakyat draws near, a coalition of student groups is building momentum in its push against the amendments.
In addition to pressing for the retraction of the amendments to the UUCA, the coalition has called on Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir to revive the disbanded committee on UUCA abolition.
The committee was formed by the previous Pakatan Harapan government in December 2018. It was led by then-education minister Maszlee Malik and consisted of various members from academia.
“We demand for members of the committee to include legal experts, student and social activists, and legal researchers in various fields.
“Among notable figures who should be included are (academics) Shad Saleem Faruqi, Edmund Terence Gomez and Azmi Sharon. This is to get a more in-depth and whole view of the Act.
“The previous committee presented six comprehensive policy papers and stressed the values and principles of academic freedom, university autonomy and student autonomy,” it said in a press statement today.
The coalition of groups comprised Suara Siswa Universiti Malaya, Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany), Suara Siswa Universiti Utara Malaysia and Student Progressive Front (SPF).
Other demands
They further demanded for the retraction of university concert guidelines and immediate action to resolve network and facility issues in all universities.
The groups also relayed this during a press conference in Parliament today alongside DAP lawmakers Raub MP Chow Yu Hui and Bakri MP Tan Hong Pin.
Speaking at the press conference, Chow said he would bring their demands to Zambry before the second reading of UUCA amendments which is slated for this month.
On Nov 27 last year, then higher education minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin presented the first reading for the amendment in the Dewan Rakyat.
He had earlier claimed that the amendments would create more space for student activism, including the autonomy to manage their finances.
Khaled was replaced by Zambry in the minister role in a subsequent cabinet reshuffle. - Mkini
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