Malaysia: Restore democracy on campuses; repeal the UUCA

by SMM and GAMP, JERIT
Aliran Monthly, Vol 24 (2004): Issue 9

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	All the restrictions and oppression are the result of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), which denies the rights and freedom of students to express, think, assemble and associate. SMM and GAMP, JERIT

On 15 September 2004, students from the country’s public universities exercised their collective responsibility through campus elections in electing leaders to the University Students’ Representatives Council for the academic year of 2004/2005.

The students, however, were oppressed and victimised by certain moves that undermined democratic principles in the conduct of the elections. This situation is worrying given that universities are supposed to be the place where intellectuals and future leaders are nurtured.

SMM (Malaysian Students' Solidarity) and GAMP (Youth and Students Coalition), JERIT (Oppressed People's Network) question the role of the Higher Education Ministry, which should have wiped out corrupt practices so that democratic principles are upheld, in the administration of universities. SMM and GAMP, JERIT also regret that the university administrations on most campuses have acted with bias and practised double-standards in the conduct of the students’ elections. This has led to the rise of a political culture of fear. The following is a brief report of several incidents that occurred during the campus elections recently:

1. Threats and condemnations via public speeches by university administration officials, bulletins and regulations that students would be expelled from their hostels if they didn’t vote for the Pro-Government Aspirations candidates. This happened in Universiti Malaya and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

2. Restrictions and obstructions against students who aspired to contest in the campus elections. At Universiti Teknologi MARA and Universiti Malaya, deans practised double-standards by refusing to sign the candidature forms of students who were not from the Pro-Government Aspirations group, and at Universiti Utara Malaysia, students were barred from obtaining the candidature forms at the very outset.

3. Restrictions going by the name of Election Regulations. A number of unreasonable restrictions were imposed on the election regulations such as having one poster containing the photos of all candidates in a particular seat, a ban on public rallies, a ban on the use of certain slogans and a ban on contesting as a group.

4. The implementation of e-voting is the latest threat to the rights of students via what was promised as secret balloting. The validity of this electoral process is suspect because it lacked transparency. The lack of transparency, the lack of confidence in its accuracy and trustworthiness, the high risks, the lack of scrutiny and the violation of the secrecy of the ballot are the main reasons for the doubts among students over the electoral system at Universiti Putra Malaysia and the International Islamic University of Malaysia (UIAM).

5. The very short electoral campaign period caused difficulties among candidates who wanted to make themselves known and publicise their respective manifestos to the campus population. Contestants at UIAM were only allowed one day after the nomination day to campaign, which was then followed by polling the next day.

Thus, considering the importance of justice and democratic principles, SMM and GAMP, JERIT list several demands in the effort to improve campus democracy:

1. The Higher Education Ministry should:

Function professionally, be transparent, and not use its position to advance a certain political agenda in the universities;
Conduct an investigation into certain cases of irregularities that involve university administration during the campus election campaign period;
Review the management and conduct of the election so that it falls in line with democratic principles and international standards;
Be receptive and not dismiss students’ views and criticisms.
Eliminate restrictions and double standards against the MPP of certain campuses especially in campuses where the Pro-Opposition teams were said to have won, such as UIAM and UPSI.

2. University administrations should:

Operate independently and not allow itself to be controlled by any political force so as not to sacrifice the integrity of the university;
Review the management and conduct of elections to uphold democratic principles and to avoid excessive bureaucracy and irregularities in future;
Not ridicule student leaders who have been elected by students into the Students' Representatives Council;
Provide space for student leaders in the Students' Representatives Council to articulate their views through the media and elsewhere.

3. The mass media should:

Stop labelling students as being “Pro-Government Aspiration” or “Pro-Opposition”;
Issue a public apology to campuses that were labelled as pro-Opposition, particularly UIAM and UPSI, and then help clear the names of these universities which have been tarnished as a result of such labelling.
Report factually and accurately matters pertaining to students’ elections or the Students' Representatives Council;
Give due attention to official statements or media conferences conducted by student leaders whether through the Student Representatives’ Council or any other student bodies.

4. Suhakam and Non-Governmental Organisations should:

Be consistent in tackling the crisis of democracy on campuses;
Publish an official report on the recent campus elections;
principles on campuses.

The above demands are meant to defend the credibility of universities and promote their role as the Sanctuary of Scholarship.

These demands emerge out of our concern as students who have been educated in an intellectual environment and who believe in the real meaning of democracy.

All the restrictions and oppression are the result of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), which denies the rights and freedom of students to express, think, assemble and associate. Instead, this Act has given immense powers to the university authorities to decide and implement campus policies.

The consequence is that the leadership potential of the students will fade if it is not nurtured in a student environment that should be more encouraging and intellectually stimulating.

Hence, SMM and GAMP, JERIT emphasise the need to repeal the UUCA, which violates students’ rights in order to restore democratic space on campus so that the values of democracy and justice can be inculcated in future leaders.

Finally, SMM and GAMP, JERIT urge all NGOs to lend support to this move to call on the authorities to give attention to these students’ demands in the effort to enshrine democracy in the institutions of higher learning in our land.

SMM dan GAMP, JERIT comprises: Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia • Barisan Bertindak Mahasiswa Negara (BBMN) • Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement(DEMA) • Kelab RakaIslah Malaysia (KARISMA) • Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM) • Jawatankuasa Kebajikan Mahasiswa/i (JKMI) • Food Not Bombs (FNB) • Radical Youth Action Collective (Re:Active)

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