In a rare move, the House unanimously agreed to scrap proposed restrictions on students holding positions in political parties from holding positions on campus.

A voice vote was called, during the committee stage debate, on Khairy Jamaluddin's (BN-Rembau) motion to remove Section 15 (2) (c) of the University and University Colleges (Amendment) Bill 2012 that was tabled last week .

This particular section of the proposed amendments was criticised as being impractical.

The proposed Section 15(2)(c) prohibits students to stand for election to or hold any post in any society, organisation, body or group of students in campus if the student hold any post in a political party.

"BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) welcomes the amendments to Section 15, which previously blocked students' involvement in politics.

"However 15(2)(c) is self-contradictory to the meaning and intention of transformation and social norms to students political freedom," said Khairy, in reading out his motion, adding that "it was shallow and incomprehensible".

'Not all students into politics'

While he agreed that the provision is drafted in the interest to maintain neutrality of an institution, he argued that it should not be "regressive" to the freedom of participation accorded.

"This because it can be handled by monitoring students activities, such as approving activities held in the campus.

"To us this restriction give the picture that the transformation promised is half-baked and will generate more negative polemics, when the amendments intends to give freedom to the students," he said.

He added a study conducted in 2008 by pollster Merdeka Centre stated that only 3 percent of the students are interested in enrolling in political parties.

"Although students are easily attracted to idealism and fighting spirit, it doesn't mean that it would entice them to participate in politics," he said.

Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin when winding up the debates on the bill commended Khairy on the amendment and agreed to scrap the sub-clause.

Similar changes were also proposed and approved to the corresponding sections in the Private Higher Educational Institutions (Amendment) 2012 Bill and Educational Institutions (Discipline) (Amendment) 2012 Bill.

DAP's motion shot down

However, changes to the UUCA proposed by Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara) were shot down, to maintain "harmony" in institutions.

Pua wanted to delete Sections 15(2)(b), (c), (d) as these clauses restricts students from "expanding their minds and views" as their participation in organisations are dictated by the institution's board.

He also wanted Section 15(3) struck off as well as changes to Sections 15(4)(a), 15(4)(b).

However, Khaled countered the proposed amendment which may restrictive to some are actually safeguards to the "neutrality of the campus".

The minister argued that giving the board the power of oversight over student activities, which were once under the direct purview of the ministry, was because the boards set the requirement of their own institutions.