Kebebasan mahasiswa perlu diberikan sepenuhnya, tegas PM

Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasized that student freedom must be given in full, without any constraints that could hinder their activities and voices in higher education institutions. The Prime Minister made these remarks at a Malaysian Science Forum titled National Future Education and University and College Act (Auku) held at Universiti Malaya the previous night.

Anwar served as the moderator of the forum, urging that any disciplinary action taken against a student solely for expressing criticism or academic viewpoints should be revoked.

Anwar clarified that the freedom granted does not mean students can act outside the limits of the law, including damaging public property. While expressing opinions is encouraged, it cannot include disrupting the police or damaging public property. He further explained that when we talk about freedom, we mean the right to have a voice, present views, or submit a memorandum.

Regarding the push for improvements in Auku, Anwar stated that any changes in the law cannot be used to strengthen the government or ministerial power. The government has already reduced centralization of authority to provide more autonomy and administrative and academic freedom to universities. Any amendment cannot be used to increase the power of ministers.

Slightly, it would reduce the power of the government, minister, or ministry to provide a little more freedom to the university, Anwar said. The forum featured Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, and Malaysian Science Academy President Tengku Azzman Shariffadeen as panelists.