Campus polls: Students' group has 7 demands
Wong Yeen Fern and Ng Ling FongPublished: Sep 7, 2006 11:15 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Solidarity Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) will submit a list of demands to the Higher Education Ministry tomorrow on the upcoming campus elections.
Solidarity Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) will submit a list of demands to the Higher Education Ministry tomorrow on the upcoming campus elections.
SMM president Mohd Nazri Yunus said they hope the ministry as well as Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will support their demands and revive campus democracy.
"If the seven demands are adhered to, there will be a free and fair elections," he told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.
The demands are:
1) To allow candidates to form alliances and joint manifestos so that voters can decide on the candidates based on the agenda and principles of the alliance.
2) Extend the campaign period to five working days so that voters can get to know the candidates better.
3) To stop the threats against voters so that they can cast their ballots without fear.
4) Abolish the electronic voting system and the use of serial numbers on the ballot papers to ensure confidentiality as well as transparency in the counting process.
5) To allow organisations such as the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and rights groups Suaram and Hakam to monitor the polls.
6) The election secretariat should not have the vice-chancellor or others with vested interest as members to ensure that the polls is carried out in a just manner.
7) To do away with any unfair restrictions on the candidates such as conducting public speaking tests and interviews.
SMM also called for the sacking of the respective deputy vice-chancellors should they fail to heed these demands.
What to fight for
Meanwhile, SMM also urged student leaders who will sit on the students representative council following the elections to fight for the rights of their peers and to ensure greater campus democracy.
The coalition listed four recommendations for the new students leaders. These are:
1) To demand that all undergraduates have the right and freedom to form organisations and access to all campus facilities without discrimination.
2) To demand for the reduction in university fees and to provide interest free loans.
3) To demand for the abolishment of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).
4) To call on the government to eradicate corruption which has become a chief cause of poverty in this country.
'Sudden' polls
In a related development, malaysiakini learnt that a 'sudden' campus election will be held this month and students from the 'pro-establishment' faction are already preparing for it.
However, the date could not be confirmed.
According to sources, the university authorities have decided on a 'sudden' elections this time around in order to prevent boycotts and sensationalised media coverage.
Since 1998, campus elections have been the 'war zone' for both pro-establishment (aspirasi) and anti-establishment student groups (student progressive front) to battle for spots in the coveted students representative council.
Last year's campus polls saw boycotts in five public varsities, namely Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), International Islamic University Malaysia (UIAM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia(UTM) and Sultan Idris Education University(UPSI).
SMM president Mohd Nazri Yunus said they hope the ministry as well as Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will support their demands and revive campus democracy. "If the seven demands are adhered to, there will be a free and fair elections," he told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.
The demands are:
1) To allow candidates to form alliances and joint manifestos so that voters can decide on the candidates based on the agenda and principles of the alliance.
2) Extend the campaign period to five working days so that voters can get to know the candidates better.
3) To stop the threats against voters so that they can cast their ballots without fear.
4) Abolish the electronic voting system and the use of serial numbers on the ballot papers to ensure confidentiality as well as transparency in the counting process.
5) To allow organisations such as the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and rights groups Suaram and Hakam to monitor the polls.
6) The election secretariat should not have the vice-chancellor or others with vested interest as members to ensure that the polls is carried out in a just manner.
7) To do away with any unfair restrictions on the candidates such as conducting public speaking tests and interviews.
SMM also called for the sacking of the respective deputy vice-chancellors should they fail to heed these demands.
What to fight for
Meanwhile, SMM also urged student leaders who will sit on the students representative council following the elections to fight for the rights of their peers and to ensure greater campus democracy.
The coalition listed four recommendations for the new students leaders. These are:
1) To demand that all undergraduates have the right and freedom to form organisations and access to all campus facilities without discrimination.
2) To demand for the reduction in university fees and to provide interest free loans.
3) To demand for the abolishment of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).
4) To call on the government to eradicate corruption which has become a chief cause of poverty in this country.
'Sudden' polls
In a related development, malaysiakini learnt that a 'sudden' campus election will be held this month and students from the 'pro-establishment' faction are already preparing for it.
However, the date could not be confirmed.
According to sources, the university authorities have decided on a 'sudden' elections this time around in order to prevent boycotts and sensationalised media coverage. Since 1998, campus elections have been the 'war zone' for both pro-establishment (aspirasi) and anti-establishment student groups (student progressive front) to battle for spots in the coveted students representative council.
Last year's campus polls saw boycotts in five public varsities, namely Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), International Islamic University Malaysia (UIAM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia(UTM) and Sultan Idris Education University(UPSI).
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