In spite of government claims of earnest reforms, PKR denounced the planned amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), as a prelude to further repression of students and academicians.

NONE "The prime minister is once again announcing a fake reform intended to pacify the rakyat's demand for freedom and to deceive students that they are being freed from  repressions of the UUCA," its vice-president N Surendren ( left ) said in a statement today.

The truth, Surendren said, was far dire, describing the proposed amendments as wolf in sheep's clothing, aimed at perpetuating BN's iron grip on institutions of higher learning.

He pointed to Sections 3 and 4, which bestow wide powers for government interference in universities, while protection for university governors and staff from government harassment was absent.

Surendren also argued that government insistence on preventing political activity on campus showed that it was not sincere in allowing students to participate meaningfully in politics.

azlan "The government's dishonesty and ulterior motives are also evident from it refusal to withdraw the appeal to the Federal Court in the 'UKM 4 ' case," he pointed out.

For these reasons alone, the PKR vice-president said, university students must know that there is little cause for celebration in the government's proposed amendments to the UUCA, as the only true freedom for students and academicians is to see the Act repealed in toto.

"This new BN trend of peddling bogus reforms to the rakyat must cease immediately," he said.

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