Students from 13 student groups have gathered in front of Dewan Tunku Canselor in Universiti Malaya (UM) today to express their support for the upcoming #BatalGST mass rally slated for May 1.  

This is despite provisions under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) which bans students from being involved in activities "deemed inappropriate by the university board". Students found participating in any "illegal assemblies" will also face expulsion from the campus.

Spokesperson Nazrul Hakim said that students are affected the most after the goods and services tax (GST) came into effect on April 1.  

“For example, an increase in operations cost after GST has caused fees in private universities to be increased. Although reference books are GST-exempted, other services such as photocopying are charged GST.

“These indeed burden the students, especially those who come from poor families,” said Nazrul, who is also the campus chief coordinator in Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim).

Among the 13 student movement groups that were present today were Anak Muda Harapan Malaysia (AMHM), Pro-Mahasiswa Nasional, Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (Gamis), Students Progressive Front (SPF) UiTM and Persatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (PMUM).   

UM Pro-Mahasiswa president Safwan Shamsuddin, who was also present, slammed a comment made by Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan ( left ) at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam on April 11.

“The statement made by Ahmad Maslan asking students to cook themselves is stupid, that’s why we need to gather on May 1,” he said.

As such, he urged students from both private and public universities to turn up for the May 1 rally to condemn the implementation of GST.

“We will gather at Puduraya on May 1 at 2pm before merging with the civil societies at Pasar Seni at 2.45pm. We will then march to KLCC,” Nazrul said.

Ahmad had since clarified that his advice was intended for students living off-campus - not on-campus where cooking is banned - and is only one of many suggestions given.