UndiMsia holds talk on student rights
J-on
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Monday, February 27, 2012
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By LOGHUN KUMARAN
UTAR, February 27 (J-on): A total of 60 University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) students were treated to an inspiring afternoon last Friday courtesy of a special talk held by the representatives of youth action group UndiMsia.
The talk entitled Student Politics, Activism and The State of the Law in Malaysia is the brainchild of Leong Kar Yen, a lecturer from UTAR's Department of Journalism.
The contents of the talk seek to equip students on their rights under the soon-to-be abolished Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) and actions that can be taken to resolve the problems faced by Malaysia.
The symposium held in the university's main auditorium features three entertaining speakers.
Wong King Chai was as one of the students involved in the well-known “UKM4” case.
He shared a detailed walk-through of his trial when charged under section 15 of the UUCA, including exclusive photos and personal anecdotes.
Now working in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, he highlighted the need for students to educate themselves on the issues affecting their rights as students and to speak up.
“There are many other laws besides section 15 that affect your rights as students,” said Wong while urging students to be creative and find ways to work within the political system.
Hasbeemasputra Abu Bakar, an activist with non-partisan initiative Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia also presented a talk.
His module focused mainly on the social inequalities of our nation and the need for the rakyat to be concerned about it. Hasbeemasputra rendered voting as less important than it sounds, because leaders do not represent the voice of the lower classes.
“We have to work hand-in-hand and look at the bigger picture to solve our problems by grouping together.” he said.
The final speaker, Edmund Bon spoke of the necessities of students to take action by starting small.
He illustrated this by using the ban inflicted on cyclists using the KTAR access road as something that should be resolved..
The talk was an unequivocal success with noticeable interest from the participants. An impromptu discussion was held after the session ended.
Leong mentioned of a possible follow up talk during April this year.
UndiMsia is an education movement aimed at promoting and enhancing greater participation by young Malaysians in the country’s democratic process.
They provide tools and workable solutions to problems that matter to young Malaysians while attempting to build, mobilise, organise and support young Malaysians to take impactful action.
Students who are interested can sign up at their e-group by going to www.undimsia.com. UndiMsia is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/undimsia, and Twitter, at www.twitter.com/undimsia.
