Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin explained that his tweet telling student protesters at Dataran Merdeka to not ask for sympathy was not meant to be crass.

However, the students should have assessed the “risk” involved in camping out at Dataran Merdeka.

NONE “Somebody tweeted and asked what was my comment on the attack, so I said they (the students) have to face it (because) when they decided to gather there they should have evaluated the risk and all other things,” Khaled told Malaysiakini .

Earlier today, the minister tweeted: “No one asked them to camp out at Dataran Merdeka. When something happens, don’t go asking for sympathy.”

Peeved by his tweet, a student group Malaysia Bangkit told reporters in Parliament that Khaled’s reaction was unbecoming of a minister.

“He should have listened to us and come down to talk to us. He should treat us as his children, not as enemies,” said the group’s chairperson Mohd Syahid Mohd Zaini.

NONE However, Khaled ( left ) said his tweet response was abbreviated to keep within the allowance of 140 characters on the microblogging website Twitter.

“I was asked that question... (anyway) what can I do, it just happened. That was the answer to the question on what was my stand,” he reiterated.

Some 100 students have been camping out at Dataran Merdeka for the past six days calling for the abolition of the national higher education fund (PTPTN) loans.

In the wee hours today they were roughed up by a group of thugs and their tents destroyed.

NONE Despite the violence the students have vowed to continue their protest until the government agrees to write off PTPTN loans and abolish the system.

Asked about criticisms that his tweet sounded like the protesting students deserved the violent treatment, Khaled said: “No, these are two different things - for them to camp there because of PTPTN is one thing but for someone to come and attack them it’s another thing.”

“No one condones violence,” said Khaled, adding that it is best to leave it to the police to investigate the incident.

Also quizzed if he was angry with the students for placing funeral wreaths over his portraits last week, Khaled said: “As I had stated earlier, with the amendments to UUCA (Universities and University Colleges Act) this is going to become common.

“There will always be students demonstrations and students involved with political parties. I accept it.”

The UUCA as well as two other corresponding laws are slated for amendments in the Dewan Rakyat today, removing restrictions on students’ participation in politics.