Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah promised that full consultation with all stakeholders will be carried out before amending the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) to return political rights to university students.

This is in contrary to the controversial enactment of the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 which has been criticised by the opposition and civil society for not having sufficient public participation.

NONE“There will be a wide consultation process including those who are worried that the amendment may create problems. Consultation will be done with all quarters including students, youths, professional groups, political parties, university staff and scholarship sponsors,” said Saifuddin (right in photo) during a press conference this afternoon at the Putra World Trade Centre where the Umno annual general assembly is being held.

Feedback from all stakeholders will be presented to the government before drafting the bill, the deputy minister promised.

The Bill will be tabled in the Parliament at the earliest by the first session of next year’s sitting in March, he added.

Saifuddin, who is seen as a more progressive and open-minded leader in Umno, stressed that the government will ensure that the amendment must be “progressive and comprehensive” and not “regressive and restrictive” with two main purposes:

  1. Return the political rights of students which are enshrined in the constitution.
  2. Increase the participation of students in the decision-making process.
“This is so that it is in line with the political transformation intended by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak,” said the Umno supreme council member.

He suggested that, among others, constitutional expert Prof Shad Faruqi lead the task force that will draft the bill.

Shad was involved in the 2009 amendment of UUCA which still bans students from joining a political party.

azlanOn the details of the amendment, Saifuddin pointed out that Najib had said that the “student” (mahasiswa) involved in the amendment is defined by age of majority which is 18 years old, however whether the amendment will only allow those above the majority age to join politics will be further studied.

During his speech in Parliament last week, Najib also announced that the amendment will enable students to become the members of political parties but the latter will not be allowed to enter the campus.

Saifuddin commented that the ban on political parties also need to be clarified.

“For example, they are prohibited to open branches in campus but their leaders can be invited to attend activities in campus.”

Empowering the students

He also hoped that the amendment will be leveraged to empower the students, including giving them the authority to conduct campus elections, and to reduce the bureaucracy in the approval of activities organised by them.

Saifuddin added that the amendment will include another three laws which also contain the same restrictive provisions - Private Higher Education Institutions Act 1996, UiTM Act 1976, and Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976.

Together with him at the press conference was Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.