When Education Ministry parliamentary secretary Mahadzir Khir asserted that the violation of student rights - as raised by Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan - was mere 'rhetoric', it confirmed my belief that the ministry does not and will never understand the meaning of fundamental liberty and democracy.

To them, the 'real issues' which they champion are the corporatisation of universities in the name of efficiency, or how to push as many graduates into the professional market as possible.

The Education Ministry detests vocal students who have the guts to dissent in the face of injustice. It cannot tolerate students who are inspired and aspire to become human rights defenders like the ' ISA 7 '. To them, this is all extremely idealistic and a waste of time.

When a person of high calibre (he was formerly a lecturer in a distinguished university) and who holds a fine portfolio like Mahadzir cannot not see the issues raised by Fong - the glaring examples being the lack of academic freedom and human rights violations - we wonder why universities ever bother to set up it student affairs department.

The department's function is to protect the student's welfare and well-being. This includes their inherent right to education.

In the recent UPM hostel raids for instance, the fact that university authorities could enter students' living premises, and invade their privacy without any due notice, instils unnecessary fear on campus.

This matter was further aggravated when the ministry opted not to look into this kind of practice and leave it in full confidence to the university. In this regard, the ministry has allow blind trust to prevail over the students' welfare and right to privacy.

The ministry should understand clearly that beyond providing education opportunities, its more important responsibilities should be to:

1) Protect and defend the right to education

2) Promote and inculcate academic freedom

3) Respect dissenting opinions and critical analysis in academic institutions, or provide ample avenues for such purpose

4) Promote and inject values of humanity, social and political consciousness in the education system, to replace the existing system which only 'manufactures' professional labour for the capitalist market

5) Carry out its duties and responsibilities to society with honesty and integrity; not subject to pressures from the powers-that-be

6) Abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971

The call for the ministry to review its obligations to the people in terms of education can never be mere 'rhetoric'. It is as real as the Ministry of Education itself!