PKR today called on Pakatan Rakyat state governments to ensure that there won’t be a repeat of Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) action taken against students in their state-owned institutions of higher learning.

In a statement yesterday, PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said his party regretted that Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin), owned by the PAS-led Kedah government, had taken action against five of its students for organising protests.

“We hope that justice will prevail in this case and that all Pakatan states will show their commitment against the UUCA by not allowing a repeat of such incidents,” he said.

The five students were suspended in June last year under Act 555 and Act 174, laws similar to the UUCA tailored for private higher learning institutions, after they protested the takeover of a building which houses their hostels and prayer room, to be converted into a school.

NONE They have since challenged the disciplinary action and the case is pending at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

PAS central working committee member Hanipa Maidin ( right ), who is representing the students in court, launched a scathing attack against Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak in his blog, but without naming him.

‘UUCA proponents unfit for Pakatan’

“Anybody who supports UUCA is not fit to be in Pakatan. If he holds any position in any party in Pakatan, he should graciously resign.

“When the general election is just around the corner, Pakatan cannot afford to retain such a person. As far as Pakatan leadership is concerned, you are either an asset or a liability,” he said in a blog posting on Thursday.

penang kedah timber logging azizan abdul razak 310708 03 Azizan ( left ) has defended the disciplinary action taken against the students, stating that Kuin had only applied existing laws.

In a separate statement yesterday, Gerakan Kebebasan Akademik (Bebas) condemned the MB’s defence as running contrary to Pakatan’s commitment to abolish the UUCA.

“The Kedah menteri besar’s action is backward compared to Selangor, which has announced the state as an ‘UUCA-free zone’ and endorsed by the acting vice-chancellor of Universiti Selangor,” said its president Muhammad Safwan Anang.

The student coalition will soon begin its southern and Borneo leg of roadshows in its anti-UUCA campaign in the run-up to an academic freedom rally slated for March 8.