THE Malaysian student movement, once vocal and visible in the 1960s, was effectively curbed when the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) was enacted in 1971. Yet of late, student activism has regained traction among some undergraduates, who participate at the risk of expulsion especially if they are assumed to favour non-ruling political parties.
This presents a peculiar situation especially for those who study political science, and who should, ideally be engaged with real issues on the ground.
To discuss the climate local university students live and study in today, and answer the question why any student would want to be political despite the risk of expulsion, The Fairly Current Show host Fahmi Fadzil speaks with student activist Hilman Idham.
Hilman was one of the four Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) political science students who were apprehended by police on 25 April 2010, during the Hulu Selangor by-election. He is also Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independen founder and president, Persatuan Mahasiswa Sains Politik president, and a member of the Majlis Pimpinan Front Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia.
The UKM four are meant to face disciplinary action from the university, as provided for under the UUCA, for allegedly being involved in the Hulu Selangor by-election. However, the four have filed a court injunction against UKM pending a court hearing. The case, challenging the validity of prohibiting university students from participating in politics, was supposed to be heard by the High Court on 9 July 2010 but was postponed to 2 August.
This video interview first appeared on PopTeeVee. The site hosts other video interviews with notable personalities on notable issues.
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