University students should make it their priority to obtain a degree instead of focusing their efforts on intense politicking for an opposition leader who dreams of becoming prime minister, is the advise to them from several quarters.

They feel that serious involvement of students in politics conflicted with their original goal, which is to become part the nation's human capital.

ukm 4 challenge auku uuca 280910 banners Overly intense and immature politicking may result in students failing and crushing the hopes of parents, especially those from poor rural families, who wanted their children to strive for a better life, they said.

Malaysian Malay Education Body (Gagasan) secretary-general Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad said university students must be wise in determining their priorities so as not to be used by unscrupulous quarters.

"I see that the fight against Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) only involves a minority of students. I see that there is no real problem with the UUCA only that these students are easily influenced and manipulated by the opposition.

"We worry that the vocal and rash actions of this minority will influence those who are steadily working towards academic excellence," he told Bernama .

He said a recent demonstration by a group of students did not demonstrate an intellectual attitude, in addition to their irrelevant struggle compared to those by student leaders in the 1970s.

"Students now don't fight for poverty, health or the economy but rather baseless issues fabricated by the opposition, so it is unfortunate that they choose to support the selfishness of opposition leaders.

NONE "Appreciate the educational opportunity given. In Adam Adli Abdul Halim's (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris student suspended for three semesters for tainting the institution's good name) case, he not only let himself down but also the family who sacrificed much for him," he said, adding that students were still young and need not rush into politics.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) vice-president Irmohizam Ibrahim said student groups which are actively involved with political parties fail to appreciate the purpose of enrolling into institutions of higher learning.

Today's struggles were empty

"The government does not restrict involvment in politics but let it be intellectual and strictly on campus.

"The university is a good place to train them to be leaders through community and intellectual programmes instead of joining political parties outside," he said.

Irmohizam, who is also a lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara's faculty of law, also felt the struggles of today's student leaders were empty compared to issues such as social ills, welfare and bureaucracy fought by their predecessors.

NONE "Student leaders today face challenges from increasingly sophisticated information technology so this is what they should fight for.

"There are no issues on poverty and welfare as government policies cater to the people's wants," he said.

Also on the same subject, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was quoted saying that the UUCA was still relevant for those who do not appreciate or act accordingly to their status as a university student.

He said the government had never stopped students from holding debates on campus, but they must avoid from being too passionate during campaigns.

Dr Mahathir also urged students to pay full attention to their studies and wait until they have graduated with a good job and stable income to proceed with political activities.

On Jan 3, Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) president Ibrahim Ali was reported as saying that university students cannot copy the struggles of student leaders from the 1970s.

This is because of the differing situation, whereby Malaysia was less developed in the past with erratic commodity prices, insufficient health facilities and limited opportunity to enter universities, he said.

In November last year, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the government would study amending Section 15 of UUCA 1974 to allow students to participate in political parties at the age of 21.

- Bernama