As students nationwide actively push for greater campus freedom, pro-government student group Aspirasi will launch a campaign in and outside campuses to "correct" public perceptions about students and to defend the universities.

NONE The campaign, titled "Aman Kampus" (Peaceful Campus), will begin next week with a 14-day convoy to all the states in Peninsular Malaysia, followed by roadshows in 25 universities and end with a major rally attended by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Aspirasi president Mohd Shahar Abdullah ( left ) said when launching the campaign today that members of the 160-strong convoy would explain the  Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) to the rural people and also hold gotong-royong and sports activities.

Proclaiming Aspirasi to be representatives of the "silent majority" in the campuses, Shahar said the students have been misunderstood because of the deeds of certain quarters.

"Those students are not big in numbers, but they are good in using the media.

"So, we need to explain to employers that besides students who like to create chaos and hold demonstrations, there are many of us who do our studies," said the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) student.

'Love PM and the country'

At the press conference, Mohd Shahar also questioned the legitimacy of liberal student group Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) to hold an anti-UUCA campaign despite being an allegedly unregistered organisation.

NONE "We are not the same as SMM.

"We received the mandate from a majority of the students in campuses while they are not even a registered body," he said.

He also rallied behind the prime minister, saying everyone who loves the country should "do something".

“The prime minister is the supreme leader of this country. If the institution collapses, our country will be gone.

“So if we love the PM and the country, we should do something,” he said.

When asked about the funding for their campaign, Mohd Shahar denied that it comes from any political party.

adam adli flash mob 5 “We are an NGO but we are glad that the funding we received from the private sector is encouraging,” he said, while sitting in front of the event backdrop which contained the 1Malaysia logo.

The anti-UUCA group has held several activities since the suspension of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) senior lecturer Aziz Bari. 

Most notably, the group held a march through Kuala Lumpur, ending at the Umno headquarters where a flag bearing the image of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was lowered . 

Conversely, the pro-UUCA group held a demonstration asking for the resignation of Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.