KUALA LUMPUR – The authorities are expected to close the gates of a major residential college in Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) Shah Alam campus tonight just as plans are afoot for an open-air gathering to air grievances on student issues.
The event is expected to be attended by Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who is former federal youth and sports minister.
Mahasiswa Demokratik, the student wing of Muda, today shared some screenshots of a WhatsApp message purportedly saying that the college gates will be shut from 9pm tonight until 6am tomorrow.
This comes after UiTM announced on Tuesday that it was calling off campaigns and talks related to politics during Ramadan.
The announcement was made just as Muda was planning a dialogue session at Dataran Cendekiawan, a student square within the college’s premises.
Despite being apparently barred by the university, Mahasiswa Demokratik then stated that the dialogue session will be held as planned at about 10pm tonight.
According to the shared message ascribed to the Melati College representative committee, the closure is due to some “unavoidable technical issues”.
UiTM tutup kolej jam 9PM malam ini atas masalah teknikal.
— Mahasiswa Demokratik (@demokratiksiswa) March 30, 2023
Perkara ini dimaklumkan menerusi satu hantaran di group whatsapp kepada para penghuni kolej. pic.twitter.com/1ShilZqcJL
“The Melati College Representative Committee for the 2023/2024 session would like to inform you that the gates throughout Melati College will be closed due to unavoidable technical problems.
“Any entry and exit to and from the Melati residential college is only allowed through the main gate,” stated in the message which was allegedly sent to inform the student residents.
UiTM Shah Alam event management and protocol unit could not be reached for comment.
Netizens fumed over this posting which was shared by Mahasiswa Demokratik via Twitter.
“Not to stop students, it is just to stop Muda” tweeted a user @MAIA191.
Bukan stop students, nak stop muda je.
— Izzat_HaHa (@MAIA191) March 30, 2023
Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman reacted to this by highlighting the phrase “Masalah teknikal” (technical issue) from the WhatsApp text.
"Masalah teknikal" https://t.co/yQtd4H5fIV
— Rara ?? (@youngsyefura) March 30, 2023
Many have reacted by commenting sarcastically, saying that the “technical issues” would only occur if they use automatic gates but not for the regular iron gates.
Loh Chuan Tuck from Muda Selayang questioned: “Technical problem? Is there an automatic system that has to close itself?”.
Masalah teknikal? Ada sistem otomatik yang terpaksa tutup sendiri ke? https://t.co/GvI7JQJs5n
— RPh Loh Chuan Tuck ??? (@lohchuantuck) March 30, 2023
“We all know why the technical issue ‘suddenly’ happened especially today”, tweeted Joanna Joseph. – The Vibes, March 30, 2023
We all know why the technical issue “suddenly” happened especially today. ?? https://t.co/WlrB1y2PKq
— ? #JusticeTourMY (@OfficialJoannaJ) March 30, 2023
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