While most fresh undergraduates in local universities are believed to have signed the controversial Akujanji (Pledge of Good Conduct) at their orientation week recently, a motley crew of senior students are putting up resistance to it.

This group of students brought their case to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) on the ground that it violated basic human rights and openly challenged the authority's claim that no students are opposing the pledge.

Met at a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall recently, the 'rebel' students shared with malaysiakini their concerns on the issue.

"The big question for the students is the legal implication of Akujanji ," said Gee, a final-year student from the Universiti Malaya's law faculty. According to her, many students are still in the dark about the status of the pledge.

Last year, the government announced that civil servants, academicians and public university students are required to sign the pledge following several incidents which the authority construed as unhealthy anti-government activities.

Since then, many civil servants, including government ministers and academicians have inked the pledge. Now, it's the students' turn.

Different briefings

"Although my university held a briefing session to explain the issue, it is still unclear. The briefing was done differently from one faculty to another. We have been told it was 'nothing'. Just sign," said Chang Lih Kang, a third-year engineering student from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

He added that some faculties requested their students to sign the pledge on the spot first before they could get their examination slips.

Students in public varsities were told to sign Akujanji — a letter of undertaking in which they declare to "fervently strive to achieve academic excellence" as well as to comply with any laws and regulations enforced by the authorities from time to time.

The letter of undertaking which was obtained by malaysiakini specifically listed subsection 15(1) and 15(3) of the University and University Colleges Act 1971.

Under these provisions, students are prohibited from joining any organisation without the written consent of the vice-chancellor and expressing support, sympathy or even opposition to any political party or trade union.

"Almost 80 per cent of the content in Akujanji are forms of restrictions on students although there are clauses which require students to study hard and not to cheat [in their studies]," said a private college student, Syahrir Mahmood.

Place to gain knowledge

Asked if it is not better for students to just stay out of politics and concentrate on their studies, Syahrir argued that the university is not a place to produce labourers for the job market but a place where students gain as much knowledge as possible.

"If we place such restrictions, why do we need departments for studies in political science, for example?" he asked .

Teng Kok Liang, a second-year student in media studies conceded that political issues are discussed in certain courses.

"If the government ban students from discussing politics, what would become of our future leaders?"

Meanwhile, Chang said that in his engineering course, he was taught not to simply sign any documents.

"Our lecturer told us not to sign anything unless you can be responsible for it," he said, adding that the ethical requirements of engineers are as such.

"The engineer's signature is important. If today we can sign something we disagree due to pressure from the Education Minister, in future we will also sign something because we are told to do so by our boss, or maybe Works Minister Samy Vellu," he said, followed by burst of laughter from the others.

No specific mention

Syahrir added that there is no specific mention that students cannot talk about politics but the fact that it imposes certain restrictions on the students remains.

"How would the government 'define' it when students discussed politics in their studies and arrived at a conclusion sympathetic of the oppositions? Would students be labeled as opposition supporters then? The government must clarify this," he said.

Asked about allegations by certain quarters that there exist radical and militant students in campus, Gee said the accusations were unsubstantiated, adding that no report has been released on the matter.

Following the fire which razed Dewan Tunku Canselor in UM last year, several political leaders including Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had blamed the incident on 'militant students element'.

The Malay Mail later reported that a finding by the Fire and Rescue Department pointed to a faulty wiring as the cause of the fire. However, no official report on the case has been released until today.

Real objective

Two student leaders were arrested under the Internal Security Act in connection with the UM fire but they were later released without being charged.

According to Gee, the real objective in signing the Akujanji pledge has nothing to do with loyalty to the university, king and country.

"For me, loyalty cannot be manifested only by signing the pledge. We should be allowed to conduct activities for the good of society and our respective educational institutions," she said.

Gee described the restrictions imposed as a sense of insecurity on the part of the authority in confronting the students' ability which they fear could bring about changes and reform in society.

Chang, the engineering student, has a different perspectives on the issue.

"Even if it is true that there are students who are involved in militant activities, the government should not impose restrictions on all students because of a few. It's ridiculous. It's like imposing a ban on motorists and cyclists after a road accident," he said.

Study root causes

He added that instead of imposing restrictions on the students, the government should study the root causes on why students are involved in militant activities, if there are any.

The students were also asked whether their academic achievement could improve by signing of the pledge.

"A policy like Akujanji will not have any impact on academic excellence because it depends on the students themselves on how they manage their time. It is not Akujanji ," Gee said.

"What is worse is that the pledge may give rise to a culture of fear among the students rather than a culture of honour, respect and loyalty," she said, adding that signing the pledge will leave a psychological effect on them.

"Once you sign something, you know you're bound to it, irrespective of whether there is any legal implication or not," Gee explained, adding that students will become extremely cautious in embarking on any activities for fear of breaching their pledge.

"University is not just about academic achievement. It is also a place for the pursuit of truth and knowledge," added the lawyer in the making.