Students denounce politics ban
| FRI, 13 AUG 2010 18:35 | By G Vinod | Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: Five student organisations today denounced the Najib administration for its opposition to student involvement in politics and announced that they would hold a public forum on the issue within the next two weeks.“We’re sick of the government treating us like children,” said Gerakan Mahasiswa Sedar spokesman Ahmad Syukri Kamaruddin in response to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's statement on Monday that the government would not lift its ban on political activity among students.
Syukri was speaking at a press conference called by his group and the Gerakan Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), Gabungan Mahasiswa Malaysia, Kelab Rakan Islah Malaysia and Majlis Perwakilan Mahasiswa Nasional.
SMM secretary Mohd Ridzuan Othman called on political parties and civic groups to share their views on the issue at the proposed forum.
“We will hold the open forum before Umno sits for its supreme council meeting on Aug 27,” he said.
“We will make a decision on our next course of action at the forum.”
Syukri accused the government of holding double standards, noting that there were Barisan Nasional support clubs to cater to students studying abroad.
“If we are not allowed to voice out our political opinion or affiliate ourselves with any political body, then how come Malaysian students studying abroad can become members of the BN support clubs there?” he said.
“I am also aware its members are invited to attend Umno's annual general meetings.”
PKR’s communication bureau has also condemned the decision to uphold the ban.
“The decision clearly showed us that the government is still unaware of the changes happening around us,” it said in a statement.
The bureau commended Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin for calling for the lifting of the ban.
“We hope that Saifuddin can lead an inter-party caucus on the matter if he is truly committed to this cause.” the statement said.
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4 comments:
[ "..幸家陳瑋齊 has left a new comment on your post "Yesterday Once More | Students are Malaysians agai...":
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The BN controlled Radio Telivision Malaysia(RTM) played and replayed:
"We were once Malaysians and can be again"
- what does it mean? Too little too late? ...admittance of a failed state by this UMNO-led BN government the past half a century! What have they done to this beautiful multi-racial, multi-cultural peaceful nation of Malaysia?
Boot them out, no ifs no buts! Vote Pakatan Rakyat, give them a chance to prove what they can do!
These students who want freedom to express their political leanings should join the 'I love BN clubs' lst, then change their minds n hop over to Pakatan!!
I thought the CORE of that call of being Malaysians again is :-
- Overcome the urge to have our hopes for the future endorsed by the prime minister. He will have retired, and I'll be long gone, when your future arrives. The shape of your future is being determined now.
- Resist the temptation to say “in line with” when we do something. Your projects, believe it or not, don't have to be in line with any government campaign for them to be meaningful. You don't need to polish anyone's apple. Just get on with what you plan to do.
- Do not put a lid on certain issues as 'sensitive' just because someone said they are. Or it is against the 'social contract'. Or it is 'politicisation'.
- You don't need to have your conversation delimited by the hyper-sensitive among us. Sensitivity is often a club people use to hit each other with. Reasoned discussion of contentious issues builds understanding and trust. Stress test your ideas.
- It's not 'conservative' or 'liberal' to ask for an end to having politics, economic policy, education policy and everything and the kitchen sink determined by race. It's called growing up.
Don't let the politicians you have invited here talk down to you. July 25 Post
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