'Varsities should exercise discretion on campus forums'

Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said there is no need to blacklist public speakers from universities or have more guidelines for political forums on campus, as universities are autonomous in organising student activities and do so at their own discretion.

“Universities know their own political climate, and their students, best. The ministry cannot micro-manage them all,” he told The Malay Mail.

According to him, forums on politics and nation-building were common in local universities.

“Having political forums is also not against the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).

“If political parties, faculties or even students wish to organise them, they should not be stopped from doing so regardless of what organisation they are from.

“Some universities allow them and they are usually open for voluntary participation. It all really depends on the university itself. However, there are some residential colleges that do make them compulsory to attend.” he said.

Let all speak

He was speaking with regards to an incident where Suara Wanita 1Malaysia (SW1M) president Sharifah Zohra Jabeen Syed Shah Miskin was caught on camera publicly rebuking University Utara Malaysia (UUM) student KS Bawani during a forum, which has since gone viral on social media.

Saifuddin added that universities are places where debates should be encouraged and ideas openly expressed.

"It is about freedom of expression," he said. "Personally, I regret the incident and disapprove of the way the speaker spoke to the student in a condescending and patronising manner."

He said the student should have been allowed to finish speaking and should have been replied to politely.

"She also should not have inferred that the student ought to leave the country. It was not the right way to handle the discussion," he said.

"However, anyone could have made these mistakes. It doesn't mean she will continue to make them forever."

- The Malay Mail

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