UTM students reply to show-cause letter
Ng Boon HooiPublished: Apr 16, 2001 9:08 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Three Universiti Teknologi Malaysia students, Lee Khai Loon, Liew Weng Kong dan Cheong Soon Aun, who recently received show-cause letters after being accused of participating in an "illegal assembly" on Feb 23, have submitted their response to the university authorities yesterday.
"The students had to abide by the requirement to reply within 14 days to explain why they should not be punished," said UTM Chinese New Year's exhibition exco member Yeoh ChunYeow.
The trio were part of an assembly of about 200 students who sent a memorandum to vice chancellor Dr. Ahmad Zaharudin Idrus to protest against the university's decision not to allow the holding of the exhibition.
One of the key reasons for the rejection was that the exhibition would only involve one ethnic community.
Meanwhile, the Majlis Perwakilan Mahasiswa (MPM) consisting of 16 members had also sent a memorandum to UTM deputy vice chancellor Zulkifli Mohd Ghazali, asking UTM to withdraw the show-cause letters. They said that the three of them were merely fulfilling their duty as MPM exco members.
Despite a recent call by the Education Minister Musa Mohamad that UTM should have an open dialogue with the students on the issue, exhibition organisers are unclear whether it would take place.
"We hope that the dialogue is not meant to discuss the exhibition only, as others are also facing the same problem (having their activities cancelled). It is not an ethnic issue, and the students want a thorough solution to the issue," Yeoh told malaysiakini.
The exhibition organising committee had earlier issued a statement urging that the open dialogue be attended by UTM officers, students, academicians with Education Ministry officials, and open to the press.
In addition, it has also called on the university authorities not to punish any students for speaking out.
Asked about the Education Minister's call that students should not apply "unnecessary pressure" on UTM, Yeoh said that the students felt that their action is rational, and the students have the right to express themselves on activities to be organised within the campus.
"Under the current system, HEP (Students Affairs) holds all the power, the students have no way to pressure them," he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section will organise a signature campaign and talk in support of the UTM students on Friday in Seremban.
"The students had to abide by the requirement to reply within 14 days to explain why they should not be punished," said UTM Chinese New Year's exhibition exco member Yeoh ChunYeow.
The trio were part of an assembly of about 200 students who sent a memorandum to vice chancellor Dr. Ahmad Zaharudin Idrus to protest against the university's decision not to allow the holding of the exhibition.
One of the key reasons for the rejection was that the exhibition would only involve one ethnic community.
Meanwhile, the Majlis Perwakilan Mahasiswa (MPM) consisting of 16 members had also sent a memorandum to UTM deputy vice chancellor Zulkifli Mohd Ghazali, asking UTM to withdraw the show-cause letters. They said that the three of them were merely fulfilling their duty as MPM exco members.
Despite a recent call by the Education Minister Musa Mohamad that UTM should have an open dialogue with the students on the issue, exhibition organisers are unclear whether it would take place.
"We hope that the dialogue is not meant to discuss the exhibition only, as others are also facing the same problem (having their activities cancelled). It is not an ethnic issue, and the students want a thorough solution to the issue," Yeoh told malaysiakini.
The exhibition organising committee had earlier issued a statement urging that the open dialogue be attended by UTM officers, students, academicians with Education Ministry officials, and open to the press.
In addition, it has also called on the university authorities not to punish any students for speaking out.
Asked about the Education Minister's call that students should not apply "unnecessary pressure" on UTM, Yeoh said that the students felt that their action is rational, and the students have the right to express themselves on activities to be organised within the campus.
"Under the current system, HEP (Students Affairs) holds all the power, the students have no way to pressure them," he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section will organise a signature campaign and talk in support of the UTM students on Friday in Seremban.
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