KUALA LUMPUR – The cancellation of Muda’s dialogue session about the welfare of interns in Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) Shah Alam campus this evening (March 30) goes against the spirit of the government’s Malaysia Madani concept, said party president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
Syed Saadiq also claimed that the action was an attempt to block his programme calling for the repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku).
“What is the use of giving them the right to vote if they cannot even engage in basic political participation (and) peaceful dialogue?” the former youth and sports minister asked during a press conference in Parliament today.
“I was invited by the students for an interactive session in UiTM Shah Alam, which was the first (dialogue session) tour in the series of visiting public universities and private universities all over Malaysia.
“I have voiced out on the issue of paid internships, not only this year but ever since I started my term in the (Youth and Sports) ministry back in 2018,” he said.
Syed Saddiq said that he agreed to have a “peaceful” interactive session in UiTM Shah Alam after tarawih prayers this evening. But on Tuesday evening, he was informed by the campus deputy vice-chancellor that it was cancelled in order “to maintain harmony within the campus”.
“Since when did I enter campuses to cause havoc? My relationship with UiTM is very close, and I remember being on international debates, I was with (students from) the International Islamic University of Malaysia and UiTM in raising and enhancing the country’s name on the world stage,” he added.
The Muda president also said found it strange that he was allowed to deliver speeches at universities when he was in an opposition party, but not now when he is part of the government.
It was reported yesterday that the UiTM campus had called off Muda’s dialogue session on unpaid and underpaid exploitation of interns which was scheduled to be held in the Shah Alam campus this evening.
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.
Authorities are also expected to close the gates of a major residential college in the campus tonight just as plans are afoot for the open-air gathering to air grievances on student issues.
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.
Despite being apparently barred by the university, Mahasiswa Demokratik then stated that the dialogue session will be held as planned at about 10pm tonight. – The Vibes, March 30, 2023
