KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Department is extremely disappointed and has rejected the move by certain quarters resorting to physical confrontation in preventing students from higher education institutes expressing their freedom of speech.
Referring to the confrontation between University Malaya undergraduates and a group of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's supporters last Friday the department said all public universities had enabled freedom of speech and involvement in politics for all undergraduates.
"This can be seen from the revocation of Section 15 (2) (c) of the University and Colleges Act 1971; Paragraph 47(2) (c) of the Private Institute of Higher Education 1996 and Paragraph 10(2)(c) of the Education Institutions (Discipline) 1976 in December 2018," said a statement from the department.
"A difference of view and opinion should not be a reason to resort to physical altercation with anyone.
“Tolerance and respect for one another in a plural society is part and parcel of our culture in Malaysia and should not be subverted by those with vested interests,” it said.
On Friday, a group, including Umno supreme council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam confronted around seven tertiary students protesting against Najib near Universiti Malaya.
When the students who held up placards and an image of Najib dressed as a clown as part of their protests refused to back down, the former Prime Minister’s supporters became physically aggressive.
The confrontation was recorded and the clip subsequently shared online.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said at least 12 police reports had been lodged on the incident, with statements recorded from 10 witnesses to assist in investigations under Section 160 of the Penal Code.
“Every undergraduate is our child and who is the future generation should be inculcated with values such as tolerance and an understanding of each other.
“They need to be educated to support and celebrate the differences for the continued preservation of peace and harmony,” said the statement.
The department also said that higher education institutions nationwide also need to nurture student empowerment.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in condemning the incident said it was disappointed over what had transpired.
It's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Azraai Kassim said the institute of higher learning fully backed the government's desire and effort in providing more space for freedom to students to speak up.
"This effort should be implemented prudently and responsibly.
“This would lead to the development of student's ability to engage and act as responsible citizens in the nation's development," he said in a statement.
At the same time, Azraai said UiTM also rejected any attempt to restrict such freedom, especially through violent means.
"Violence not only goes against societal and democratic norms but also goes against the rich Malay-Muslim values as well as the nation’s laws.
"For UiTM, violence is not a way of resolving differences of opinion or ideology, nor does it have a place in any UiTM campus.
"The freedom to debate and argue by academicians and students intellectually on issues and matters which are of public interest is an educational process, so long as it does not violate the nation's law," he said.