KUALA LUMPUR – Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) has called off Muda’s dialogue session on unpaid and underpaid exploitation of interns which was scheduled to be held tomorrow at its Shah Alam campus.
The interactive session titled “Interns Are Not Free Labour”, organised by Muda’s affiliated body, Mahasiswa Demokratik, was cancelled by the campus on the grounds of maintaining campus harmony and also to focus on spiritual programmes in the month of Ramadan.
In a statement via Twitter, Mahasiswa Demokratik said UiTM’s decision to cancel the programme is not in line with efforts by the Higher Education Ministry and the university to be more open to healthy discussions among students involving issues that are currently being faced by them.
SYED SADDIQ TAK BOLEH MASUK UiTM
— Mahasiswa Demokratik (@demokratiksiswa) March 29, 2023
Pihak UiTM telah memaklumkan bahawa mereka tidak membenarkan penganjuran Dialog Intern Bukan Buruh Percuma atas alasan untuk mengekalkan keharmonian kampus dan juga untuk memberi fokus kepada program bersifat kerohanian di bulan ramadan. pic.twitter.com/zdItHXNJh4
“Every student has the right to engage in intellectual discussion. Universities are the centres of knowledge, and should be the centres of discussion so that programs like this can be implemented properly and continuously.
“The harmony of the campus will be maintained if implemented within the campus, because the university can control and ensure that the program runs well.”
Despite being barred by the university, Muda’s students wing has since stated that the dialogue session will be held as planned tomorrow at 10pm in Dataran Cendekiawan, UiTM Shah Alam with the presence of party president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
This statement was in response to UiTM’s announcement regarding students’ participation in any programmes that are disapproved by the university.
[???????????] Penyertaan pelajar dalam sebarang program yang tidak mempunyai kelulusan universiti.#MalaysiaMADANI
— UiTM Official (@uitmofficial) March 28, 2023
#UiTMDihatiku pic.twitter.com/zRESH8Mlt0
In the statement, UiTM informed its students that they are free to participate in any politically related campaigns or activities on or off campus as long as it is approved by the university.
“Therefore, students are only allowed to participate in talks anywhere on campus that have been approved by the university.
“The university is responsible for maintaining the institution’s reputation and ensuring the activities held are in line with the values and culture of the university,” the university’s student affairs division stated via Twitter yesterday.
Earlier this month, Mahasiswa Demokrasi stated that its formation under Muda aims to fight for the elimination of old sections under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, replacing them with new sections that uphold freedom of speech to students and motivate the students to establish unions for their rights in local universities. – The Vibes, March 29, 2023
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