Kuala Lumpur, August 11 - There should be more open discussions on the issue of allowing university students to take an active part in politics, said Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

“The discussions should involve all concerned parties,” he said.

Speaking at the Malaysian Youth Council’s roundtable discussion on “University Students Joining Political Parties” here yesterday, he said tertiary students should be given political education.

The roundtable was held following the resolution passed by the Student Representatives Council Convention in Bangi, Selangor, on Sunday which proposed that undergraduates be allowed to be involved in politics under certain conditions.

Saifuddin said an assessment must be made on the current regulations and whether there was a need to amend the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 to allow university students to participate in politics.

“We might need a special meeting just on the legal aspect,” he said.

Under the current act, university students are not allowed to become members of political parties, unless they receive permission from their vice-chancellors.

Saifuddin was joined in the discussion by Universiti Putra Malaysia anthropology senior lecturer Dr Sarjit Singh, Universiti Teknologi Mara political science lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Shaharuddin Baharuddin, Penin­sular Malaysia Malay Students Fede ration president Jais Abdul Karim, and past Universiti Malaya Student Repre sentatives Council president Mohd Ridzuan Mohammad.

The panel was of the opinion that university students should be allowed to take part in politics.