Withdraw Charge From UKM Students, Protecting The Right of Political Participating of University Students

We students organization, criticize Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) authority for charging on three UKM Political Sciences students under University & University College Act 1971 (UUCA).

Three Political Science students from UKM were found in Hulu Selangor to observe and study the by-election campaigning process for academic research purposes and pursue of knowledge in the field of election analysis. As a result, they have been charged by the university with Section 15(5)(a) of the UUCA, which prohibits students from participating or expressing sympathy or support for any political parties. Although the university authority do not have evidence but the students have been assumed to express support or sympathy towards political parties and have been charged prior of any investigations by the university.

In addition, students should be given opportunity to exercise academic freedom in the pursue of knowledge and academic research. Thus, the Political Science students should not be demonised and punished by the university. Students should be encouraged to show concern about current events and happenings as well as to pursue knowledge and academic research in their own field of studies. The charging of the students is a retrogression of democracy and academic freedom in UKM.

Section 15(5)(a) of the UUCA 1971, which prohibits students from participating or expressing sympathy or support for any political parties, is in direct contradiction with Article 119(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, which guarantees all Malaysian citizens above the age of 21 the right to vote in elections, which is a form of expression and participation in politics. This is a blant disregard and disrespect of the Federal Constitution by the university, violating the right of the UKM students as a Malaysian citizens.

We urge that UKM’s authority to withdraw charge from Muhammad Hilman bin Idham, Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin, and Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha immediately to preserve the academic freedom to do research and pursue of knowledge of students to further research their own field of studies.

Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA),
Persatuan Bahasa Cina Universiti Malaya
endorsed