http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/39225-new-auku-to-be-tabled-in-march-.html

'New AUKU ' to Be Tabled in March
by Aidil Syukri Thursday, 26 January 2012 23:34

SHAH ALAM, 26 JANUARY, 2012: The Amendment Committee of the University
Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971 has now entered the final draft to amend the
Section 15 before being presented in Parliament next March, said the
committee's chairman Prof Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod.

However, according to professor, the Higher Education Ministry is
still open to feedbacks from the public on the amendments.

Prof Nik Ahmad Kamal who is also Deputy Rector of Student Affairs and
Alumni of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said, based on
the feedbacks received, majority feels that AUKU is still relevant and
should not be eliminated entirely, though it requires some amendments.

"The committee will present the draft to the government. It depends on
the government whether it wants to accept it or not. I have no personal
interest, "he said when met by reporters after the 'Wacana: Masih Relevankah
AUKU' organized by Sinar Harian newspaper today.

He said the committee has also been looking at some of the relevant
sections in the AUKU to ensure that it is consistent with the changes that
will be made to Section 15.

"If there are sections relating to Section 15, we have to amend it
also. We must see it as a whole, but of course the focus remains on the
Section 15, "he said.

The provisions under Section 15(5)(a), which disallows students from
expressing support for parties and participating in politics. However, many
argue that it is unconstitutional as Article 119 of Federal Constitution
specifically states that every citizen above the age of 21 is qualified to
vote, which is a form of expression and participation in politics. - mD
____

http://www.malaysianmirror.com/media-buzz-detail/6-nation/56388-uuca-relevant-fo\
r-those-incapable-of-self-responsibility

UUCA Relevant For Those Incapable Of Self-Responsibility
Friday, 27 January 2012 00:19

ALOR SETAR -- The Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) is
relevant for university students who are incapable of self-responsibility or
those who do not appreciate the privileges accorded to them, former prime
minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

Dr Mahathir, who asserted this when asked whether the Act was still
relevant, said the government never prohibited students to organise debates
in the university.

"What we forbid is their action to go and campaign here and there;
people paid to educate us...we study on other people's money so we should be
responsible to those who sponsored us by studying well.

"A lot of Malay students gained entry into universities not because of
their academic achievements; if they don't work hard they will lag behind.

"They should focus on and complete their studies, obtain a job, have
an income, and then they can do what they like," he told reporters after a
attending a discourse series in conjunction with the International Year of
Cooperatives 2012.

Dr Mahathir said students should not think that they could not become
good politicians if they did not get involved in demonstrations, adding,
"During my time there was no demonstrations, yet (I) turned out to be quite
a wise politician."

"What is regrettable is that those who are objecting to the UUCA are
Malay students and not the other races.

"I am not racist but Malay youths who were not highly qualified are
the ones who wanted so much to have the act repealed. The UUCA is not
relevant if we know how to take care of ourselves," he said. (Bernama)
____


http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187605

UUCA 'opens minds', says pro-gov't student group
Hazlan Zakaria 2:05PM Jan 27, 2012 [extracts]

Contrary to popular belief, the Universities and University Colleges Act
(UUCA) in its present form, after the 2009 amendments, is the main vehicle
for students to attain academic freedom, contends pro-government student
group Aspirasi.

"UUCA frees the mind of students from inappropriate thinking," its chief
Mohd Shahar Abdullah told the audience at a forum in Shah Alam
yesterday.

Speaking as a panel member at the 'UUCA, is it still relevant?' forum
organised by Malay-language daily Sinar Harian, Shahar argued that such
safeguards would ensure that the "factories" that universities continued to
produce "quality" graduates.

"The law protects the rights of the majority of the students, for whom
academic achievement is the main objective," he said.
[...]

"National agendas should not be the focus of students in campus. If you mix
in national agenda, then the students may get confused," he argued.
[...]
____

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/26/nation/20120126222610&sec=n\
ation

Many want UUCA amended not abolished, says committee
Thursday January 26, 2012 MYT 10:15:09 PM

SHAH ALAM: Most of the stakeholders in the Universities and University
Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) have given their feedback on the proposed
amendment, said UUCA amendment committee chairman Prof Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik
Mahmood.

"Most of the feedback from surveys or public opinions wanted the act to be
amended, but not abolished with a 60:40 ratio," he told reporters after
attending a discourse entitled "Is UUCA still relevant?"

Nik Ahmad Kamal, who is International Islamic University Malaysia deputy
rector (student affairs) said, however, students, academic staff, political
parties, the ruling party and opposition parties felt that students should
be free from the influence of political parties on campus.

"This shows the thriving spirit that students should be allowed to engage in
politics outside the campus.

"But the campus should remain free from politics on condition that they are
given the freedom to listen to political views and political parties to
espouse their ideologies," he said.

He said even student representative councils, which were inclined to support
certain political parties, felt that if a student holds a position in a
political party, he should not capitalise on it to influence students on
campus.

Nik Ahmad Kamal said the committee was still gathering feedbacks and would
start preparing the draft of the amendment soon.

On Nov 24 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razakannounced
Section 15 of the AUKU will be amended to allow university student above 21
join party politics. BERNAMA
____

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=27008:nik\
-nazmi-autonomy-for-universities-must-include-dismantling-the-uuca&Itemid=2

Nik Nazmi: Autonomy for universities must include dismantling the UUCA
Friday, 27 January 2012 11:59

The Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced
that yesterday five public universities - Universiti Malaya, Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia
and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia - are to enjoy autonomy. This move however
is meaningless as the draconian University and University Colleges Act is
still in force.

It has been proven time and time again that the UUCA has been a major hurdle
for university autonomy and academic freedom. The government's decision to
amend Section 15 of the UUCA is a lame concession as it does nothing to
address the culture of fear and centralisation of power that the UUCA has
engendered. Students, the civil society and the Opposition have been
consistently arguing this for decades but it took the UKM 4 landmark
decision for the government to finally acknowledge this fact.

Bipartisan committee

Indeed, we are still waiting for the bipartisan committee that the Deputy
Minister for Higher Education Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, announced in
December to materialise. Such a committee - if it does indeed take place -
will look at the alternative legislation to the UUCA as proposed by student
leaders in 2008.

At the same time, our party deeply regrets the decision by the Kolej
Universiti Insaniah Kedah (KUIN) to apply the UUCA on five of its students.
We hope that justice will prevail in this case and that all Pakatan states
will show their commitment against the UUCA by not allowing a repeat of such
incidents. We have fought for too long and too hard to allow such abuses of
fundamental rights to continue.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD IS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR OF
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT
____

AUKU tidak perlu dikaji, hapus sahaja
http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/7775-auku-tidak-perlu-dikaji-h\
apus-sahaja

Adam: Tanpa Kebebasan Akademik Negara Akan Mundur
http://www.malaysiandigest.com/bahasa-melayu/39023-adam-tanpa-kebebasan-akademik\
-negara-akan-mundur.html

Up Close and Personal with Adam Adli
http://www.malaysiandigest.com/features/39211-up-close-and-personal-with-adamadl\
i-adamadli-auku.html

The case for academic freedom - Zaid Ibrahim
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/sideviews/article/the-case-for-academic\
-freedom-zaid-ibrahim/

Feedback received from most UUCA stakeholders - Committee
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/27/feedback-received-from-most-uuca-stakeho\
lders-committee/
____

http://www.malaysiandigest.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3922\
6:auku-aziz-bari-wants-pakatan-to-take-action-against-kedah-mb&catid=36:local&It\
emid=68

AUKU: Aziz Bari Wants Pakatan to Take Action Against Kedah MB
by Aidil Syukri Thursday, 26 January 2012 23:39

SHAH ALAM, 26 JANUARY, 2012: Constitution expert Prof Dr Abdul Aziz
Bari called for Pakatan Rakyat to take stern action against Kedah Mentri
Besar, Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, for implementing the University and
University Colleges Act (AUKU) to punish the students of Kolej Universiti
Insaniah (KUIN) in Kedah last year.


Prof Abdul Aziz said, Azizan's action was clearly contrary to the
Pakatan's promise to erode the AUKU as outlined in the coalition's common
policy statement, better known as Buku Jingga.

"Pakatan must be firm in this case because there should be no leaders
in the coalition rejecting the agreement as stated in the Buku Jingga, "
said Prof Abdul Aziz.

He said this is not the first time that Azizan took a controversial
stand that is inconsistent with the principles of Pakatan in the affairs of
Kedah's administration.

""If you want to support AUKU, go and join the Barisan Nasional (BN).
They (BN) are pro AUKU," he said.

In May last year, five KUIN students were tried and suspended as a
punishment for being involved in the protests against the construction of
Sekolah Insan Bestari.

The protesters are against the construction because the area of the
construction is not strategic and will disrupt KUIN's students' learning
process. - mD
____


http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/4283-two-legal-activists-flay-\
azizan-over-remarks-on-uuca.html

Two legal activists flay Azizan over remarks on UUCA
Harakahdaily Friday, 27 January 2012 13:01

Jan 27: Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak's statement supporting
the heavily criticised Universities and University Colleges Act has riled up
two legal activists.

L-R: Aziz Bari and Hanipa Maidin
http://en.harakahdaily.net/images/stories/newslocal/aziz_hanipa.jpg

Former law lecturer Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, who was briefly suspended by
the International Islamic University before he chose to quit his senior
teaching post last December, said Azizan's stand was against the principles
of academic freedom as embraced by Pakatan Rakyat in its 'Orange Book, or
'Buku Jingga'.

"If he supports UUCA, he should join BN," said Aziz, reminding that
among the pledges in Buku Jingga is the repeal of the act.

The Buku Jingga outlines reforms to be implemented by Pakatan Rakyat
in the first 100 days after winning Federal power.

Echoing him, lawyer and PAS Central Committee member Hanipa Maidin
said anyone who supported UUCA "is not fit to be in Pakatan".

"If he holds any position in any party in Pakatan he should graciously
resign," Hanipa wrote on his blog yesterday.

He added that PR could not affort to retain individuals who did not
toe the line especially when elections were around the corner.

"As far as Pakatan leadership is concerned, you are either asset or
liability," he wrote in remarks believed to be linked to Azizan's statement.

The Kedah MB earlier drew the ire of students groups for defending the
suspension of five students of state-owned Insaniah University College
(KUIN) in May last year for holding a demonstration protesting the
university administration. Despite that, Azizan refused to apologise and
said KUIN had acted within "existing laws".

"So the question of the Kedah government not following the leadership
of PAS and Pakatan Rakyat which want to abolish UUCA does not arise," he
said.

The five KUIN students have meanwhile resorted to legal action to
challenge their suspension. PAS Youth has also lent support to the students,
saying it hoped the court's decision would side with them.
____

Pro-UUCA Kedah MB should join BN, says Aziz Bari
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187547

'Students vow to vote Kedah MB out'
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187394

Pakatan will pay for KUIN suspensions, say student activists
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/malaysia/article/pakatan-will-pay-for-k\
uin-suspensions-say-student-activists/

Students rap Kedah govt for not 'walking the talk'
http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/4237-students-rap-kedah-govt-f\
or-not-walking-the-talk.html

Serang Azizan Razak tidak bijak
http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/terbaik-dari-blog/7777-serang-azizan-razak-\
tidak-bijak

Meet the Kedah MB and his fashion taste from Simpang Empat
http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/4284-meet-the-kedah-mb-and-his\
-fashion-taste-from-simpang-empat.html

Mengenali MB Kedah dari dekat
http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/7781--mengenali-mb-kedah-dari-\
dekat