Pro-student groups today lamented the restrictions imposed by Universiti Malaya on the UM Association of New Youths' (Umany), which includes the disqualification of its vice-president from contesting in the campus elections.

Tan Jia You told a press conference that he was disqualified at the nomination stage.

"I was not given any reasons or justifications. I have been barred from contesting in all student elections from now on," said the third-year finance student.

Tan was one of the four UM students charged by the university's disciplinary committee in May this year, for holding up placards bearing the words "1MDB, pulangkan duit rakyat" (Return the people's money 1MDB), at a town hall event in Oct last year.

The students are in the process of appealing the guilty verdict in the High Court.

When contacted, UM deputy vice-chancellor of student affairs Rohana Yusof said that those complaining should read the Student Representative Council's election guidelines, which states that students found guilty of misconduct by the university cannot contest.

Nevertheless, Tan’s campaign mate, Umany president Kon Hua En, maintained that the disqualification was unfair.

“In a student election, power should be given to students to decide whether or not they want a candidate,” he reasoned.

Later, Kon lamented how a poster of him was rejected by the university’s Student Affairs Division for an “inappropriate hand gesture,” and also how “anti-establishment” student groups needed to fulfil extra criteria before they were allowed to give campaign speeches in lecture halls on campus.

'We will defend academic freedom'

For this election, Umany has joined forces with Angkatan Mahasiswa (Angkatan) and Demokrat UM (Demokrat) to campaign on a “student agenda.”

“We want the UUCA (University and University Colleges Act 1971) to be abolished, we want a students’ union to be re-established to give students autonomy to run the campus, and we want student to run their own elections.

“We will also defend academic freedom so that students and lecturers will be free from a regime that limits their freedom of speech,” said student activist Anis Syafiqah Mohd Yusof (second from right in photo) on behalf of the election pact.

Student elections are currently administered by the university’s Student Affairs Division.

The pact also accused incumbent student representative body Penggerak Mahasiswa (Penggerak) of being “pro-administration” and failing to fairly represent students.

“Some of the ‘successes’ in their two terms in government include organising a forum to justify the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, opposing student’s right to protest, attending official government functions like Transformasi Nasional 2050 (TN50) sessions, and remaining silent when students were attacked by the ‘MO1’ regime,” added Anis Syafiqah, who was previously suspended for leading the “Tangkap MO1” protest in 2016.

In response to the pact’s allegations against its track record, Penggerak election director Hazwan Syafiq Haznain told Malaysiakini they were untrue and aimed at “toppling” their campaign.

“Under us, we have opened up welfare aid to non-Muslim students.

“Plus, students are now not barred from sitting for examinations even when they fail to pay school fees. We have managed to negotiate for the ban to be put off until the following semester."

Welfare, not politics

Penggerak, which currently occupies 29 out of 40 positions in the student representative council (MPP), was seen occupying the Kompleks Perdanasiswa gazebo, a large open-air auditorium where large banners in their colours – yellow and black – were hung.

The party will be running on a manifesto centred on welfare, religion, knowledge and unity this year, said Hazwan Syafiq.

“We will address current issues like WiFi, welfare and housing...we want to help those who are underprivileged,” added the final year quantity surveying student.

However, the manifesto will not contain a policy on UUCA.

“We do not think the UUCA ‘restricts’ students from being able to succeed, (in fact) the current university system has moulded many students to become successful in different fields,” he added.

Islamic principles, not protests

The elections will also see a third force, Neosiswa, contesting for student votes. Formed two years ago, it promises a “new direction in politics” infused with Islamic principles.

“We want a politics that peaceful and diplomatic, not one that is about demonstrations, provocations or cheap publicity.

“Our campaign is centred on intellect – where we adhere to facts and hujah (arguments) and dakwah – preaching good values that can be applied by Muslims and non-Muslims, as well as seeing Islam as the solution," its election director Amir Muzaffar Abdul Halim told Malaysiakini when met outside the Neosiswa election camp, a wooden Malay kampung house decorated in turquoise, their campaign colour.

While recognising the challenge of convincing a multi-religious student population of its platform, Amir Muzaffar hoped that their inclusive and professional approach would appeal to students.

The upcoming UM student elections will see all three camps and a total of 72 students battling it out for 40 positions on the MPP.

Umany, Angkatan and Demokrat will be contesting 24 positions on a common platform, while Penggerak will be contesting 38 positions. Neosiswa will be contesting 10 positions.

Campaigning begins tonight, while voting takes place this Thursday (Sept 28), with results announced the same day.