There is no necessity to amend the  Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) because politicking in the tertiary institutions will only split the students whereas their main objective is to acquire knowledge and seek employment.

NONE Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) vice-chancellor Prof Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar ( left ) said the university was not in favour of the proposed amendment to the UUCA as political freedom would only threaten peace and the unity of Malay and bumiputera students in the university.

“My wards (UiTM students) are peaceful and in harmony in their struggles for knowledge to become a useful human being. What is important is that all of us are united and not divided,” he said at a media conference in Shah Alam today.

He was commenting on the proposal by several groups who wanted the UUCA to be amended to give space and freedom to the university students to be involved in politics.

Sahol Hamid said currently, the students had been given an opportunity to express their views and opinions through the associations and campus elections that were being held, and these were sufficient for them.

“In fact, I personally have my own Facebook account which is used to contact the UiTM students directly. They can make whatever complaints to me and appropriate action will be taken,” he said.

Commenting further, he said Malay politics these days would lead to division instead of unity.

On another development, he said the UiTM would identify orphans and children of the Orang Asli throughout the country next year who would be assisted to pursue higher education to ensure a better future for them.

Sahol Hamid said the university had set up the ‘ Jawatankuasa Khas Mengubah Destini Anak Bangsa ’, which would also be set up in every state, to identify these children who would be offered an opportunity to continue their studies through the committee.

He said there were many orphans, especially from the abject poverty group, who were keen to continue their studies but could not afford to do so.

- Bernama