Two groups, Solidariti Untuk Kebebasan Akademik (Bebas) and Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), today submitted a memorandum demanding for academic freedom to Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak at Wisma Darulaman, Alor Setar.

The memorandum was handed over to the menteri besar’s press secretary, Helmi Khalid.

Bebas chairperson Mohd Safwan Anang @ Talib, 22, from Universiti Malaya, said the memorandum containing seven demands was submitted to Azizan to protest against the state government’s action of suspending five students of Kolej Universiti Insaniah for taking part in a rally without permission.

The demands include repealing the Universities and University Colleges Act, Act 174 and Act 555, and for academic freedom, and freedom of expression, to form associations and to manage students’ elections at their respective campus, and the freedom for undergraduates to be involved in politics.

Mohd Safwan said the solidarity group would be handing over similar memorandums to other leaders in Kedah as well as other states, the university authorities nationwide and federal governnment leaders to know their stand on the students’ demands.

In another development, the Mukim Karangan Action Group, Kulim also submitted a memorandum to the state government to protest against a private company’s move to turn a 76.4ha oil palm area, where their housing area is located, into a memorial park.

“We do not agree with the project as about three kilometres from our housing area is a 19.8ha Chinese cemetery and about 20km away, there’s already a memorial park,” said its secretary, Roslan Osman.

“The company’s move is illogical as the majority of the residents in the area are Malays who number about 16,000,” he added.

Roslan, who handed over the memorandum to Helmi, hoped the state government would review the project and relocate it, and their area to remain an oil palm area.

- Bernama