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Suhakam: Reform law, free students' minds
Published:  Aug 19, 2015 11:57 AM
Updated: 5:39 AM

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) wants an urgent law reform for universities to take into consideration the fundamental rights of students.

Suhakam chairperson Hasmy Agam ( photo ) said includes an amendment to Section 16 of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) to require all universities to take into consideration the fundamental rights of its students when enacting or enforcing rules within their university.

"More specifically, universities must ensure that the enforcement of their rules does not curtail the basic rights of students, including the right to information, to discuss national and international issues, as well as to express their opinions on any issue in the true spirit of democracy," he said in a statement today.

"Furthermore, all educational institutions must seek to ensure that their rules and regulations are not unnecessarily restrictive, arbitrary and disproportionate to a student’s freedom of expression, as students are entitled to the same civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights as all other members of society," he added.

Concerned stakeholders, he said, must recognise that healthy discussions, including discussions on national and political issues on or off campus, provide a space for students to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas which would "inspire a more egalitarian and socially conscious society".

The commission's suggestion comes after the recent suspension of two students from Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) for inviting PKR parliamentarian Rafizi Ramli to deliver a talk on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as well as the decision of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) to punish a group of students for organising and participating in a protest.

View it in a positive light

Meanwhile, Hasmy stressed that civil and political rights awareness among students must be viewed positively to complement and supplement the formal education and training that they receive in university.

"Any unreasonable curtailment of the exercise of their rights, particularly the rights to the freedom of thought, speech and association as guaranteed in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, would deny them of an education and experience so vital for their development and maturity as responsible citizens and future leaders of the country," he said.

Pointing out that meaningful youth and student political contribution was necessary to ensure collaborative participationc- where young people effectively take part in the country’s political and decision-making processesc- Hasmy therefore urged that student organisations be allowed to be independent and free from external manipulation and undue interference.

"(This is) in keeping with the practice adopted by universities in many countries, including developing ones, in today's globalised world," he said.

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