Members of the student representatives’ council of Universiti Malaya (MPMUM) are calling for their president to step down over what they allege are his leadership shortcomings.

Having failed in a meeting last night to get MPMUM president Afandy Sutrisno Tanjung to step down, they have tabled a no-confidence motion against him.

um racist remark 110408 pres s conference “We will have the voting exercising soon in which the 40 members of the council will cast secret ballots on the motion,” said MPMUP supreme council member Ahmad Shahrir Abdul Aziz at a press conference held in UM today.

According to Shahrir, UM students do not regard MPMUM under Afandy’s leadership as an effective body to look after and represent their welfare, interests and aspirations.

The students want a representative council that is “progressive and aggressive” in voicing such aspirations and in face of the challenges and issues facing society, Shahrir said further.

Shahrir described Afandy’s leadership recorded as dotted with problems and issues.

“We asked him to step down voluntarily, but he refused,” he added.

Calls to Afandy’s mobile phone went unanswered.

Racists remarks allegations

um racist remark 110408 mohd hilman nordin Clarifying an issue that cropped up earlier this week, another MPMUM member Mohd Hilman Nordin ( photo ) said the allegation that Afandy had made racist remarks and posted them as notices in different parts of the campus was found to have been incorrect.

“I was among those who had raised this issue, and last night I apologised to Afandy for having done so,” said Hilman.

Shahrir and Hilman had earlier been reported to have called for Afandy to resign for the alleged racist remarks.

Afandy, meanwhile, is said to have lodged a police report over the notices as these bore the official MPMUM stamp and Afandy’s name and signature.

Shahrir also read out a declaration that called for ethnic unity and cultural pluralism to take on a deeper meaning than the mere holding of open houses during the festive seasons.

um racist remark 090408 ahmad shahir “The word ‘tolerance’ is so readily on the lips of people, while efforts to realise the attitude of tolerance and make it a reality still remains as rhetoric,” said Shahrir ( photo ).

“It is not wrong to seek the development of each of our respective ethnic communities, but it must not be done at the expense of the others,” he added.

He also said that students are ready to build and nurture unity among the various ethnic and religious communities.

“Our aim is to evolve a community that holds on to justice and equality for all,” Shahrir said further.