'Amend UUCA only to allow off-campus politics'
Published: Nov 13, 2011 3:08 PM | Updated: Nov 13, 2011 3:11 PM
The Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) needs to be amended to allow university students to be involved in political activities outside the campus.
A Universiti Malaysia Sarawak student leader says it's time students are given the space, but without affecting the university as a place of learning.
The Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) needs to be amended to allow university students to be involved in political activities outside the campus.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Student Representative Council (SRC) vice-president Hwong Yie Hahn said it was time university students in Malaysia were given flexibility in politics, but at the same time without affecting the institution's role as a place of learning.
"The government should amend Section 15 of the UUCA to restrict politics in the classroom and campus, but at the same time, give a chance for them to be in politics off campus," he told Bernama here today.
Fully supporting the move to amend the UUCA, Hwang said a majority of university students were eligible to vote and should be given an opportunity to make their voice heard in the political arena.
"University students should be given a bit of faith to find an equilibrium between politics and studies," he said, adding that a holistic development for the students was also needed to produce quality graduates who have knowledge and opinions on political issues.
Hwang also refuted assumptions that allowing students to do so would threaten unity in universities as existing laws could tackle the problem should there be any attempt to jeopardise general order.
"Political issues do not only cover political parties, and there are an array of political issues that can be voiced and discussed by students as intellectuals which can drive progress in the country," he said.
Media reports today quoted two SRC presidents from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) as being against the amendment.
USM SRC president Muhammad Idzuan Jamaluddin stated that the amendment would affect student learning in campus, while UPM SRC president Iqbal Ismat Nordin said he was also of the same opinion.
- Bernama
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Student Representative Council (SRC) vice-president Hwong Yie Hahn said it was time university students in Malaysia were given flexibility in politics, but at the same time without affecting the institution's role as a place of learning.
"The government should amend Section 15 of the UUCA to restrict politics in the classroom and campus, but at the same time, give a chance for them to be in politics off campus," he told Bernama here today.
Fully supporting the move to amend the UUCA, Hwang said a majority of university students were eligible to vote and should be given an opportunity to make their voice heard in the political arena.
"University students should be given a bit of faith to find an equilibrium between politics and studies," he said, adding that a holistic development for the students was also needed to produce quality graduates who have knowledge and opinions on political issues.
Hwang also refuted assumptions that allowing students to do so would threaten unity in universities as existing laws could tackle the problem should there be any attempt to jeopardise general order.
"Political issues do not only cover political parties, and there are an array of political issues that can be voiced and discussed by students as intellectuals which can drive progress in the country," he said.
Media reports today quoted two SRC presidents from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) as being against the amendment.
USM SRC president Muhammad Idzuan Jamaluddin stated that the amendment would affect student learning in campus, while UPM SRC president Iqbal Ismat Nordin said he was also of the same opinion.
- Bernama
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