human rights, voters rights… students rights?

"it is your rights to vote."

yes. that applies to everyone (of voting age). it is one of our ‘human rights’.

then of course as voters, we have the rights to choose who we want to vote for. we also have the right to choose who to campaign for, right? it is our rights! well, that’s right, it is a right to only certain people but not right to students in institutions of higher learning!

according to this bernama report:

Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed today warned students in institutions of higher learning that they risked losing their scholarships if found to have campaigned for political parties in the upcoming general election.

He said it was an offence under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 for them to be active in politics and that stern action would be taken against those involved.

"The provisions in the Act clearly prohibit university students from being involved directly in politics and those caught violating the regulation also risk being suspended.

"But they will be allowed to cast their votes. It is their right," he told reporters after a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here today.

so this means the UUC act supersede the students’ rights to do what they like, i.e. campaigning? well methink not only campaigning but to be involved in politics in total, right?

ok fine, i can buy that as we all know there are rules and regulations to abide by when we are in a certain place.

however, according to ong, in the pengkalan pasir by-election UMNO’s candidate was a UTM postgrad student. he was allowed to run in the election because the SPR considered that the right as a voter given to a citizen is higher than denial of right of students under the UUC act.

huh? "the right as a voter given to a citizen is higher than denial of right of  students under the UUC act"?? then why did the higher education minister said that students should not campaign? to stand for election and/or  to campaign is to get involve in politics, in the election. why SPR said ok while the minister said no?

since we are on the topic of U students, did you read about the kerismuddin minister saying that he is very confident students will vote for BN? funny, he also mentioned about students who are anti-establishment and pro-establishment – i thought students are not allowed to get political???