AUKU Repeal Gives Students Greater Space To Speak Up – Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- University students should make full use of the wider space created by the repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) to voice their views more boldly and champion the interests of the younger generation, said UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said previous restrictions on students' involvement in political parties or clubs had limited their movement both locally and abroad, but developments surrounding AUKU now provided greater space for youth to participate actively.

“With this amendment or repeal of AUKU, if there are no restrictions domestically for students to mobilise within UMNO, we will strengthen and fortify the Overseas UMNO Club and also UMNOSiswa,” he said in his speech at a get-together with delegates of the Overseas UMNO Club and UMNOSiswa here today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said the youth voice was important in helping the leadership understand issues faced by university students, including their views on the country's political future and improvements to the political system.

On Aug 15, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government would repeal AUKU to provide wider freedom and democratic space for student movements in the country.

On Aug 26, Anwar also directed that any disciplinary action taken against students solely for voicing criticisms or academic views be retracted immediately.

Meanwhile, Overseas UMNO Club Newcastle branch president Muhammad Amir Ikram Mohd Fadil, 23, described the repeal of AUKU as an opportunity for students to raise issues more openly.

He said students previously faced certain limitations when involved in clubs or organisations using the UMNO name, including in expressing views on government policies.

“There may be some matters that are sensitive, but it is precisely those sensitive matters that sometimes touch on government policies. Whereas the matters I touched upon in the speech are actually problems occurring on the ground.

“So, with the absence of restrictions, I feel it is an opportunity for students to speak more openly and allow the problems happening out there to be heard,” he told Bernama.

Muhammad Amir said students must nevertheless use the freedom responsibly by understanding issues comprehensively before expressing their views.

“Do not just complain over a minor problem as if the government is doing nothing. With the AUKU restrictions gone, we can say anything, but we must know how to express it, and we must know the process and the system,” he said.

He said the Overseas UMNO Club also served as a platform to connect the Malaysian community abroad and ensure their views could be conveyed to the relevant parties.

According to him, 57 delegates from Egypt, Jordan, the United Kingdom, Russia and Indonesia participated in this year's assembly, the largest participation for the Overseas UMNO Club to date.

-- BERNAMA