PKR called on Pakatan Rakyat-controlled state governments today not to impose the much-criticised Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) on state-owned institutions of higher learning.

NONE At a press conference today, the party’s vice-president, Nurul Izzah Anwar ( left ), urged the state governments of Selangor and Kedah not to implement the contentious law by exhibiting “a greater commitment to academic freedom by walking the talk”.

“Students have been critical about the way the Kedah state government has handled the Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) incident.

“(And) how the Selangor state government has not followed through demands made in the Selangor state assembly to make University Selangor a UUCA-free institution in spirit, if not legally at least,” said Nurul Izzah.

In April, five students from Kuin were suspended for taking part in an illegal assembly asking the institution’s management to reconsider using one of its residential college buildings as classrooms for Quran studies students.

NONE Also lending their support were PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin (right in photo ) and communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad ( left in photo ), who added that academic freedom has been one of Pakatan’s long-standing agendas.

Pointing out that academic autonomy is also enshrined in the opposition manifesto Buku Jingga , Shamsul said it was pivotal that the states “take the lead” in opposing the UUCA.

“(...) And continue to demand the same action from the Najib administration until all our universities are truly free and become the shining beacons of the country they once were,” he said.

Since the implementation of the UUCA in 1971, undergraduates have been penalised by the authorities for challenging the status quo or being critical of the powers that be over the years.

However, in November, the Court of Appeal ruled that Section 15(5)(a), which bars university students from being involved in politics, is unconstitutional and as such, null and void, in a case involving four Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia students.

The students had been charged with campaigning for an opposition party during the Hulu Selangor by-election in April.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had then announced that the problematic provision would be repealed, but Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said nonetheless, the government would appeal the court’s decision.

UUCA amendment roundtable

Najib’s announcement, said Nurul Izzah, did not serve much of a purpose as although promising that amendments would be made to allow students to actively take part in politics, but politics would be banned from campuses.

“Sadly, the proposed amendments to the UUCA will fit into the same pattern of Najib’s so-called transformation agenda on the Internal Security Act (ISA) reform and the Peaceful Assembly Bill - pronouncements that appear bold at first, yet in reality perpetuate more of the same old policies,” she said.

It was not only Section 15 that was a problem, but also other sections that provided for the appointment of vice-chancellors by the ministry, unfair disciplinary procedures and limited power of the Students Representatives Council, added Nurul Izzah.

As such, the UUCA should be repealed altogether, she stressed, and replaced with legislation that was drafted by Solidarity Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) long ago.

“It may not be perfect but that should be taken into consideration instead of amending something that is flawed from the beginning,” said Nurul Izzah, adding that only then “the well-entrenched culture of fear in universities can be totally uprooted”.

On a related note, Nurul Izzah said Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah had extended an invitation to a representative from the party to attend a roundtable meeting at Hotel Sunway Putra tomorrow to discuss issues related to the UUCA amendment.

“The prime minister must show political will if he is truly serious about academic freedom and excellence by abolishing the UUCA in its entirety and introducing fresh legislation that guarantees the autonomy of universities, its lecturers and students.

“We don’t want half-baked reforms. Show us your commitment,” added the Lembah Pantai MP.