The one-sided 1MDB forum in University Malaya (UM) organized by the UM students representative council (MPPUM) and Department of Special Affairs (Jasa) featuring 1MDB number one propagandist Arul Kanda was another reminder to us that University and University College Act 1971 (UCCA) must be abolished.
It is sad to see University Malaya, which was once the hotbed for student activism and idealism, has become a place of one-side-story. When the students held up placards that read “1MDB don’t spin”, “1MDB-Return the people’s money”, “Students want answers” etc, they were labelled by Tun Faisal, a former Umno Youth leader, as “uncivilized”. But seriously, what could be more uncivilized than shamelessly stealing people’s monies?
While we are asking in Malaysia why there was no another side of 1MDB story presented to the students in UM, across the Pacific Ocean, Washington University in St Louis was the venue for the United States second presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. What a stark difference. When will we see the day when University Malaya or any universities in Malaysia become the host of election debates between political parties?
Although UCCA was amended in 2012 to allow students to participate in politics outside of the campus, Section (15) still prohibits political activities inside campus and imposes restrictions on students from organizations that the university board determines to be “unsuitable to the interests and well-being of the students or the University”. Section (15) coupled with Section (4) that strips away autonomy from the universities makes critical thinking and objective debates impossible in campuses across Malaysia.
Since the enactment of UCCA, tertiary students in Malaysia have been scared away from national issues. Many students are fearful to participate in political activities. In my short journey as a politician, I have met countless of students who asked me whether their scholarships would be taken away or whether they would be expelled from the universities if they participate in rallies, forums, events or programs organized by the opposition political parties. The culture of fear is prevalent. In addition, it is ironical and laughable to see many tertiary institutions offering subjects related to “critical thinking” when the very core spirit of the law that governs them is based on restrictions and controls.
UCCA must be abolished to break the culture of fear. Putrajaya must give back autonomy to universities so that knowledge and critical thinking can flourish in the universities across Malaysia without restrictions and interventions of the politicians.
As a state legislator of the ruling government in Selangor, I understand the heat a government has to go through with intense criticisms. However, government must not fear criticisms and run away from them by imposing laws that restrict the right of the people to know the truths and their freedom to express disagreements. We must be able to engage with the people so to uphold the real meaning of democracy and to be the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
In the spirit of impartiality and neutrality, I would like to suggest UM to organize a forum or debate that allows another side of 1MDB story to be told to the students of UM. Nevertheless, with UCCA still in place, will UM ever dare to allow such forum to take place in the university?