The government appeared relentless in its policy to prohibit students from active participation in partisan politics despite the lively debate and interest shown by students in this area at the o­n-going annual graduates' congress in Penang.

Education Minister Musa Mohamad reiterated today that university students should never get involved in politics, let alone party politics, as this could distract them from their studies.

He said education should be free from political influence and the question of political participation "does not arise".

UUCA stays

The minister dismissed outright any prospect of reviewing the present restriction - the 1971 Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) - which limits students' active involvement in the political arena.

"Our principle is that education must be free from all political influence," he told malaysiakini, when met after a press conference held in Universiti Sains Malaysia.

"The purpose of attending university is to study and politics is not for students while they are at university," he stressed.

Musa attended a two-hour session which discussed "Students from my perspective" at the congress held at USM's Dewan Budaya. He later held a dialogue session with the participants.

The three-day congress is organised by the USM Student Affairs Department in collaboration with Biro Tatanegara. About 600 students from various local universities were present to discuss topics related to politics, entertainment and sports, gender, and the law.

At yesterday's session o­n "Students and Politics", a suggestion that students should be allowed to form clubs based o­n the ideologies of party politics was brought up. Many had expressed keeness to be involved in the nation's political development.

Only for these SARs

O­n Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR or people's religious schools), the education minister said the government will only fund religious schools which conduct the ARQA (AL-Quran Fadhu Ain) programmes.

These Islamic programmess, he said, were funded by the Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Malaysian Islamic Development Department under the Prime Minister's Department).

"As such, these are government courses. Schools which conduct these courses will be given financial aid," he said.

Musa said the grant was allowed under the Education Act as it was funds for an education policy.

"But the funds have to requested from time to time. This is not like the usual allocation for Chinese medium schools," he added.

The government had recently withdrawn its annual grant to SARs, claiming that they were promoting PAS' brand of Islam and as such, they have become anti-government and could even be breeding grounds for terorism.

DAP and dress code

Musa also criticised the DAP for playing up the issue of imposing Islamic dress code o­n non-Muslim students in public universities and other institutions of higher learning.

"They (DAP) seem to specialise o­n this issue. DAP should be awarded a degree [for continuing to raise the issue]," he said.

Musa refused to comment o­n the matter, saying "I have explained the issue again and again".

"I don't see why I have to answer them now."

Yesterday, the DAP called o­n the minister to issue clear instructions to public schools and universities on the imposition of Islamic dress code o­n non-Muslim students.

The party said such a ruling was against the spirit of the constitution which, among others, guarantees freedom of religion and its practices.