Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang wants Higher Education Minister Dr Shafie Salleh to suspend all university disciplinary proceedings against students who protested against the recent campus elections.

Lim believes that the repressive campus environment and the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) is detrimental to the ministry's effort to promote Malaysia as a regional education hub.

"Such a suspension of all university disciplinary proceedings against university students is vital so as to establish an open, independent and credible review of the 34-year-old UUCA to restore academic freedom and university autonomy to recreate the conditions for Malaysian universities to attain world-class status," said Lim through a press statement.

Second-year University Putra Malaysia (UPM) student, Lim Sook Swan, is facing disciplinary action for allegedly being involved in campaigning against alleged irregularities that occurred during the recent campus elections.

Minister's plea

Previously, Shafie announced that there would be a policy review of the UUCA and that a UUCA review committee would be formed.

According to Lim, Shafie appealed to Parliament that, "It's only been a year I have been a minister. Bagi saya chance (please give me a chance)."

Fully agreeing that the minister should be given a "chance", Lim ask that Shafie gives the UUCA a "chance" to gain support and confidence from the public and students by firstly suspending the disciplinary actions by universities.

"If the university authorities are allowed to continue their witch-hunt against students in connection with the protest against the recent campus elections, then the UUCA review announced by Shafie in Parliament on Wednesday would have lost all meaning and purpose, and I myself would withdraw my support," said the veteran legialator.