'Allow students in politics'

KUALA LUMPUR - Selangor state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong has urged Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to withdraw charges against four students who allegedly took part in the April 25 Hulu Selangor by-election campaign.She also called on the Federal government to repeal the University and University Colleges Act which, she said, had "long restricted the democratic freedom and intellectual capacity of our nation’s future leaders."

The four students - Muhammad Hilman Idham, Muhammad Ismail Aminuddin, Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha and Woon King Chai - have been called up by the UKM authorities to attend disciplinary proceedings on June 2 and June 3.They had allegedly breached the Act by taking part in the by-election campaign and had, in their possession, CDs and political party pamphlets.

Joining the chorus of criticisms

The four political science students have claimed they were there to observe and study the electoral process and not, as they have been accused, to participate in the by-election. "In fact, the political science students were in Hulu Selangor with their lecturer," said Wong, joining the chorus of criticisms from politicians and other interest groups who support the idea of lifting the ban on students taking part in political activities.
The MCA, a senior component member of the Barisan Nasional coalition, is among the parties that held the view that the Act should be reviewed and provisions that prohibit campus students from participating and taking part in political activities be repealed."The charging of the UKM students under the Act is an affront to Malaysians who believe that academic and political freedom is a basic right of all citizens," added Wong.
"Regardless, the Act is an archaic and unjust law that needs to be repealed as soon as possible.
"Section 15(5)(a) of the Act, which prohibits students from participating or expressing sympathy or support for any political parties, is in direct contradiction with Article 119(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, which guarantees all Malaysian citizens above the age of 21 the right to vote in elections.
"Therefore, I urge UKM to immediately withdraw the charges against the four students and repeal the Act," she said.

Students' on-line protest

Meanhwile, the Coalition of Pan-Malaysian Islamic Students (Gamis) has launched an online petition to urge UKM to drop the charges against the students for allegedly campaigning in Hulu Selangor.
Gamis president Mohd Idris Mohd Yusoff said the petition aims to collect 10.000 signatures, demanding a referendum to drop the charges against the students involved,
The online petition can be accessed via the link: http://www.petisyen.com/petitions/view/40/referendum_bantahan_4_mahasiswa_ukm_dikenakan_auku.html

"The petition and collection of these signatures will be submitted to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and the management of SMEs.
"This Act is no longer relevant to the students and the university as the center of polluting activities and academic freedom as well as a store of knowledge, " Mohd Idris said.

Ministry's early warning

Ahead of the Hulu Selangor by-election the Highger education Ministry had warned students of public institutions of higher learning not to get involved in any activities during the campaign as they were bound by the Act.Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin had reportedly said there was no reason for students to be in Hulu Selangor during that time unless they were registered voters in the constituency.
Early this year, a group of Universiti Malaya students held a demonstration in front of the vice-chancellor's office after losing the campus elections.
They had demanded for re-election and abolishment of the e-voting system used in the election