LETTER | University of Malaya Chinese Language Society (UMCLS) was suspended by the University of Malaya Student Affairs Department (HEP) since Nov 11, 2017.
The suspension of one semester was given on the grounds that UMCLS had made administrative errors.
We, the undersigned, deem that the suspension of UMCLS by the university was utterly unreasonable and ridiculously wrong on three grounds:
Trampling on students’ freedom of association
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) proclaimed by the United Nations, Article 20 states that everyone has the right to association.
Similarly, the highest and supreme law of our country, the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, also includes the freedom of association in Article 10.
Hence, it is crystal clear that freedom of association is a basic human right recognised by the world and must not be taken away by any unit or institution.
When university students form student bodies and organise various activities, they do not only help in terms of personal growth, but also contribute to other students, universities, and the public at large.
HEP of UM that is supposed to facilitate students’ activities chose to suspend a student body just because of some administrative and technical errors.
Their action completely violates the spirit of our constitution, the highest standard of law and tramples on students’ freedom of and right to association.
Disregarding student autonomy
In the 60’s, before the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) was introduced, students were seen as the “conscience of the society” who were actively concerned about and took part in campus and social issues.
They also defend the rights of the minorities as a means of giving back to the society.
The government, in order to suppress the student movement so that students will not be a threat to the authority, introduced UUCA in 1971.
Since then, student autonomy had constantly been encroached upon.
The emergence of the UUCA allows politics to invade campuses and interfere in their affairs, making it the strongest weapon for the Government to undermine the power of students.
Students who once enjoyed autonomy are now afraid to speak up against the injustices.
Any student who dissents against the universities or authorities will be targeted by the UUCA and the punishments meted out can range from a fine to expulsion from campuses.
However, UM does not seem to be satisfied with the power it has and chose to further suppress student bodies.
The latest incident is the suspension of UMCLS. The actions taken by the university shows student autonomy has been trampled on severely.
Also, the mission of “nurturing students to be the leaders of tomorrow” has been changed to “producing students to be the robots of tomorrow”.
HEP’s long-time hegemony
Even though if we agree that UMCLS has committed some administrative errors based on the standards of the university, but the root of all problems lies with the HEP.
Students who organised activities have certainly suffered a lot from the HEP’s hegemony.
Many student bodies had satisfied HEP’s unreasonable instructions in order to sustain themselves and to continue to organise activities.
For example, a few years ago, HEP suddenly announced that all student bodies had to uniformly organise their AGMs in the first semester.
This instruction had directly disrupted the planning of many student bodies.
A few years ago, the HEP also instructed student bodies to move out from their activity rooms from Kompleks Perdana Siswa (a student activity building), claiming that the building had to be renovated.
Once renovation finished, HEP never returned the activity rooms to the affected student bodies including UMCLS.
All these examples show that the student bodies have been victims under HEP’s hegemony.
In order to continue with their planning, many student bodies, including UMCLS, had to find other ways, and this includes committing some administrative errors.
However, when HEP discovered their errors, they took the “golden chance” to further suppress UMCLS and suspend it.
We, the undersigned, once again urge the university to immediately withdraw its suspension order and to stop all forms of suppression against any student body.
We also urge other students, student bodies, NGOs, as well as the public to stand together with UMCLS and express our solidarity with them.
Our strong and forceful voice is paramount in exerting public pressure against the HEP so that the suspension of UMCLS will be withdrawn.
Let us defend students’ right and freedom of association and the remnants of student autonomy.
This statement was endorsed by:
1. University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany)
2.Malaysia Youth & Student Democratic Movement (Dema)
3. Student Progressive Front USM (SPFUSM)
4. Student Progressive Front UUM (SPFUUM)
5. Kesatuan Mahasiswa
6. Democrat UKM
7. Student Progressive Front New Era College
8. Angkatan Mahasiswa
9. Demokrat UM
10. Suara Mahasiswa
11. USM Wanderers
12. Unity Spirit Towards Spring