Student activists have generally snubbed the proposed amendment bill for the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), which allows student participation in political activities for not being in line with their long pursued agenda.

Responding to the amendments tabled in the Parliament on Monday, they insisted that only a total abolition of UUCA would do, to revive academic freedom in the country.

NONE Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student leader Adam Adli Abdul Halim ( left ), who grabbed media attention last year for lowering a flag featuring Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, said the amendment bill was irrelevant.

"It's not like we are desperate to join political parties or take part in political activities.

"What we want is academic freedom. "We want the freedom to make our voices heard and the freedom to criticise political parties," he said.

The president of Student Uprise Legacy (LBM) said he will continue  pressing for the repeal of UUCA regardless of the outcome of the  bill.

azlan He also stressed that the Higher Education Ministry by right should be dismantled as well because universities should enjoy the autonomy to be governed by academicians.

The amendments to Section 15 of UUCA will allow undergraduates to take up membership in any political party.

However, it prohibits students holding political party posts from running for campus elections and holding posts in campus societies, organisations, bodies or groups in their institutions of learning.

Commenting on this, Malaysia Muslim Students Alliance (Gamis) president Akram Ikrami Taib Azamuddin said that the bill, if it comes into force, will divide students into two groups.

"I cannot agree with the amendment to bar active students from school politics.

"Active students are those who are well aware of current issues and ukm 4 challenge auku uuca 280910 banners they will bring awareness to other students in campus," he said.

By having the amendments in place, he added, the country will produce students with poor understanding of issues regarding the governance of the country.

Meanwhile, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) Haziq Abdullah Abd Aziz said the amendments themselves are not enough.

"The amendments come with conditions. If they are serious about giving freedom to students, why are there such restrictions ?" he asked.