COMMENT | I refer to the Malaysiakini report 'Students give Maszlee seven days to resign as IIUM president'.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik knows that there is nothing the students can do to change the situation and so he grins from ear to ear. He may continue to smile widely but for Asheeq Ali, this isn't a joke. It is not a situation to be laughed at and brushed off in front of the media with a "Rilek la bro" attitude.

For Asheeq Ali, it is personal. In 2016, he was suspended for one semester and fined RM200 by UKM for his involvement in the Tangkap M01 rally. University autonomy is an issue that has affected not only him but many others as well.

Maszlee’s meeting with student protestors to “listen to their views” is nothing more than a political move in an attempt to appease those who oppose his appointment. His mind was already made up prior to the meeting.

In seven days, the students shall protest again but he has already made clear his intention to proceed with his appointment. I just hope they won't be arrested.

Maszlee’s statement that he shall “relinquish his position and amend the rules so that no politicians can be appointed as the university’s president” once he completes his mission and brings back the glory of IIUM is worrying.

It shows the hypocrisy and self-aggrandising attitude that Maslzee has. By intending to prevent the appointment of future politicians as the university's president, he acknowledges to a certain extent that such appointments are harmful and yet, he implies that he is subject to a different standard than any other politician.

The truth of the matter is that he is merely continuing a harmful precedent. It should be noted that his promise to amend the rules in the future is not a promise that is reliable given that he has already gone against his own word.

There are many holes in Maslzee's logic. He should realise that it is fully within his capability to reject the appointment despite the decision being made by someone of a higher power. Denying that he can reject it is a delusional assertion on his part. It shows a messiah complex.

His justification that IIUM does not fall within the scope of the UUCA is unsatisfactory. If you are already planning to abolish the UUCA, it shouldn’t matter. Being the president of a public university while also being the education minister and a politician affiliated with the current ruling coalition is not sending a good message in regards to university autonomy regardless of your intentions.

No more compromises

It should be noted that if the university is really keen on Maszlee's skills and ability then they should only appoint him after his tenure as education minister has ended.

Why choose to appoint him now? Is it because the benefits that can be reaped from appointing him now are attributable to Maszlee's political position?

If yes, then the appointment is to a certain extent political. Even if it is intended or not, one cannot deny that Maslzee's political position will play a significant role.

Saying that there have been previous politicians who have been appointed as president of the university in the past is not a good justification either. If we are acknowledging that the previous administration was at fault especially on the aspect of university autonomy than let’s not strive to emulate them.

As for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent comments suggesting that Maszlee’s qualifications and skills somehow distinguished him from other political appointments in the past, it should be noted that the concern is not regarding the level of skill that Maszlee has but more the potential of conflict of interest and political influence that he may intentionally or unintentionally exert on the university by virtue of his political position.

To those who argue that this is an insignificant matter or to those who argue why bother now when people weren't too hung up about BN politicians being appointed in such positions in the past, it is perhaps time for you to acknowledge that the problems we are currently experiencing are partly due to the older generation normalising such a detrimental culture and turning a blind eye to the slow erosion of university autonomy.

We have a chance to start over and if we do not use this opportunity to be strict and tough on our politicians regardless of who or what their political allegiance is to, then we don't deserve the title of “Malaysia Baru” because it might as well be the same old Malaysia.

Students are sick and tired of having inches taken away from us time and time again. It's time we protect every inch of what we have when it comes to university autonomy and our freedom to speak.

No more compromises. It’s time to take a stand.

GOH CIA YEE was a former intern at Malaysiakini.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.