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When Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the Malaysian Education Minister in 1975, he responded to assemblies of university students in campuses especially University of Malaya, MU, with Universities and University Colleges Act, UUCA, clipping the wings of academics and students. Since then, they have been living in a stuffy atmosphere.

On 10 July, 2001, MU Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain lamented an erosion of intellectual culture among undergraduates and academics today. He quoted factors such as the Internet, a lack of role models and over-emphasis on examinations.

"It is ironic (complaints about insufficient avenues of expression), and I am disappointed. The students are not keen on the speakers’ corner because they have nothing to talk about. They do not have a sufficient body of knowledge in their heads.

"All they want to do is talk about partisan politics," he added.

INQUIRY

Let us have an inquiry into why students behave as they do. Then we can formulate methods to overcome the shortcomings. For example, talking about partisan politics, for decades, what have component parties of Barisan Nasional especially UMNO been doing among university students within and outside this country? Has there been overweening or rapacious activities of these component parties compared to the Opposition?

Universities should not be the exclusive domain of any political party. Has any party been behaving as though they have concession or patent rights over our universities?

Dr Mahathir mentions racial polarization from schools to universities. He is right that there is. Why? Is it the quota system or the abuse of rights that aggravates it?

MORE ROOM

While it is important to redress socio-economic imbalances, it is equally important to ensure that this is not done according to race, but according to needs.

When Dr Mahathir was in Singapore University (King Edward Medical School), he studied hard. But, he also had some space for venting his feelings on socio-economic factors. Similarly, for centuries, presidents, prime ministers and other leaders in the world have had this breathing space in universities: Ghandi, Nehru, Mao, Zhou En-Lai, Deng, Churchill, Lee Kuan Yew, Thatcher and others. Nelson Mandela was active in school and university and his second university.

The Prime Minister should hark back to his halcyon days in university and then decide on what he wants for the present and future university students. How should they adapt to further globalization and cyberworld?

We do not agree with students taking part in violence, extremism and destruction of society. But, they should have more room to think and to vent their feelings. Under UUCA, the existence of speakers’ corner does not mean much. How many universities in the world need such type of corner?

If the Government reviews UUCA, it should make the law more liberal for academics and students. They don’t need more draconian law.

The 1996 Education Act stipulates the establishment of world-class education. A world-class university teaches students to think for themselves. Some of them may not agree with the Government. If the latter imposes more draconian laws, will they relent?

 Dr Tan Seng Giaw