Lights out, varsities are afraid of their own shadow
YOURSAY ‘This certainly heralds dark days ahead for academic freedom.’
UIA locks up, goes dark to stop student rally
Lamborghini: The light has truly been blown out for our local universities. When university authorities have to take childish actions, such as turning off the lights and barring former lecturers to enter to speak to their students, it certainly heralds dark days ahead for academic freedom.
No wonder our universities are sliding down so quickly in world rankings. It is simply shameful when universities are afraid of their own shadow.
Headhunter: This will become a trend - meetings taking place at the entrance of a university rather than inside the university itself in response the authoritarian stance by the campus management.
And it’s still as effective, if not more effective, as everybody will be able to witness the students thumping their nose at their institutions. I believe we are witnessing a major shift in student activism in their fight for freedom of expression and democratic rights.
Kassim Muhamad: The deliberate act of switching off the lights and plunging UIA into darkness itself is a symbol with a crystal-clear message.
The system cannot accept it, hence the action. However, if it (the action by the students) has been allowed, there is the fear that the message will go viral. A jittery system cannot accept that, too.
Anyway, what is so 'good and fine' about our education system now that our youths are unable to see?
Rupert16: It’s good that our students are starting to challenge and question our corrupt and incompetent government.
We are no longer a feudalistic society and God has given us brains to ask, discuss and debate so that our country will be better governed, for the interest of all the rakyat and not only for certain politicians, their families and cronies.
Jeneral Al Ayubi: Good move by the university. We need to be a bit harsh in order to maintain the harmony.
Albeit, what Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) did is not even close to harsh. There are so many agents of disruption that are trying to trash the country's peace.
Avatar 111: Hong Kong's government and police allow the students/demonstrators to occupy and close public roads for almost two months and yet the world people think the authorities are undemocratic and high-handed.
Look at us, a small gathering of students was not even permitted. How pathetic can we be?
Rick Teo: We are turning into a police state. Why are the authorities of our universities so afraid of allowing students the freedom of hearing speeches by pro-Pakatan Rakyat intellectuals? After all, government ministers and supporters are always allowed to speak in the campuses.
Anonymous_1378093545: Keep it up students. You are our future. Stay and fight to get governance in Malaysia back on track. Do not take the easier route of leaving the country.
This is your home and you have the right to put it in order and live here happily without fear. Well done, dear students.
Amah: I thought UIA just launched a speaker’s corner in the campus? Too bad students cannot get in.
NuckinFuts: Only the lawless will fear law professors.
Selangor Umno says Dr M disparaging the party
Slumdog: Selangor Umno secretary Johan Abdul Aziz is in denial and refuses to believe or accept the obvious.
It is a rare occurrence but former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad is telling the truth on this occasion. The vast majority of Malaysians, and no doubt many Umno members, will agree that it is a known fact that there is rampant corruption perpetrated, encouraged and fostered by Umno.
Johan should know that it is pointless to provide any evidence of corruption to the authorities as they are equally corrupt and do the bidding of Umno. Does he really think that the home minister, IGP or MACC will take action to prosecute any Umno-linked person?
Swipenter: Johan is delusional. Umno Baru has been running the country since independence without a break. Mahathir was the one who transformed Bolehland from an agriculture-based country to a modern manufacturing one.
For 22 years he turned a blind eye to corruption in Umno Baru (and BN) under the guise of the NEP, cronyism and nepotism. Now this cancer is all-pervasive and permeates to every level of our society.
Johan, just do a simple exercise. Ask the common men and women on the street whether they have encountered/engaged in corrupt practices.
Ask BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia) about the huge illicit capital outflow out of the country. Besides corruption, racism is also institutionalised. Mahathir says only Umno Baru is corrupt but not him and his family, friends and cronies.
Vijay47: I just love Umno's use of words. We have Hishammuddin Hussein who invented "perception" and now we have Johan referring to the unfair Umno "image" as a corrupt party.
Hello, the truth is far from perception and image, it is as real as 10 elephants dancing in the room. Corruption is the irretrievable foundation of Umno, the temptation that lures the lazy, inept, and the crooked to the party in the hope of easy pickings.
Perhaps to convince the multitudes, Mahathir's suggestion to change the people's opinion by going to the kampung in humble garments and modest vehicles should be pursued.
As a curtain raiser at the forthcoming Umno general assembly (AGM), they could play that unforgettable scene from ‘Sumpah Orang Minyak’ where that true Malaysian, P Ramlee, in mendicant's clothes and all, sings the immortal ‘Tudung Periuk’.
The AGM crowd would be in tears over Umno's unhappy destitute lot in life. Malaysians, generally, would be in stitches.
Telestai!: The truth hurts and in this particular case, it hurts a lot. At formation, Umno was probably intended to be a fearlessly nationalist party, but it lost its way three decades ago due to corruption.
Guess who started the slide down the slippery slope of corruption?
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