Demo is a Right, but it isn’t Soap Opera
J-on
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Sunday, January 24, 2010
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By Nigel Aw
“Troublemakers!” Many would mutter at the recent arrest of nine undergraduates.
The nine were among over some 200 undergraduates from various local varsities who decided to stroll along Jalan Raja Laut before stopping for a ‘shopping shpree’ at Sogo. Interestingly, they came prepared with banners and a slogan or two.
The demonstration demanded for democracy, academic freedom, university autonomy and transparency in university administration.
This comes ahead of an impending clash of titans in heated campus elections across six local universities next week. The two major factions: Pro-Aspirasi and Pro-Mahasiswa will be going head to head against each other.
While the cause championed is noble, the timing of such a demonstration raises the question if it is simply an act by student leaders to score political points and gain votes in the upcoming elections.
Ahead of the polls, a myriad of issues have been raised by student leaders, ranging from the introduction of electronic voting (E-voting) system and unfair campaign period to misappropriation of funds and abuse of power by university authories.
One can only speculate their sincerity but the trend is telling. With such political posturing even in university, it comes as no surprise why local university students are turned off from participating in the voting process.
This unhealthy culture of political posturing moves on into the larger society as the student leaders carry the banner as leaders of tomorrow, cementing the cynicism and skeptical perception of voters in society towards politicians.
Advocating for student welfare, transparency and competency of university administration and academic freedom should be a continuos effort. Come campaigning period, it should no longer be “We demand for” but rather “We have done so”.
If either of these two giant factions could sufficiently fulfill their manifesto from the last campus elections, they will more than certain receive renewed mandate from undergraduates.
Such political posturing would only become a necessity if they are bankrupt of achievements.
Thus the “troublemaker” label is understandably justified. Don’t get me wrong though, I’m all for the right of assembly as enshrined in our Constitution.
I do believe that the police should have given some space to the undergraduates to voice out their confusion.
Some may argue that there are limits to freedom, but such restrictions conferred by the Constitution in this case is only limited to national security and public order. In no way have the undergraduates posed a threat.
Having a police permit or not, the constitutional right of Malaysians should take precedence, even for electioneering troublemakers.
