Joint Statement | What is wrong with critiquing the education system? Police urged to stop harassing University of Malaya New Youth

The Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement (TBH-ADA) and the Youth Section of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall condemn the police for invoking Section 505(b) of the Penal Code (statements conducing to public mischief) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (improper use of network facilities) to investigate University of Malaya New Youth’s call to “abolish the matriculation programme” and for summoning its president, Tang Yi Ze, to give a statement.

As a university student organisation concerned with the nation’s well-being and committed to reform, UMANY has long spoken publicly on political, economic, cultural and educational issues in Malaysia. This reflects the youth’s concern for national affairs and represents one of the best ways of contributing to the country through constructive discourse. Political leaders should welcome young people’s free discussion on the merits and flaws of education policies, upholding the spirit of free expression and embracing criticism and policy proposals—instead of silencing dissent through repressive measures.

The police, in their statement, claimed that UMANY’s declaration “may create negative perceptions of the education system, and trigger dissatisfaction and public panic.” This is a baseless accusation. If the police resort to draconian laws merely on the basis of malicious reports from a few individuals to target student leaders, this will undoubtedly fuel mob politics and infringe upon the constitutionally guaranteed right of free expression.

We remind the “MADANI” government that when Pakatan Harapan leaders were in opposition, they openly called for the abolition of the Universities and University Colleges Act, the repeal of the Sedition Act, and condemned the Barisan Nasional government’s suppression of student organisations. Many advocates of the single-stream education system also frequently call for the abolition of multilingual stream schools. Do they not equally “create negative perceptions of the education system” and cause “dissatisfaction and panic”? The “MADANI” government must not apply double standards by singling out powerless students for punishment.

It is deeply ironic that Anwar Ibrahim—once a student leader himself—has, after becoming Prime Minister, allowed state apparatuses to suppress students’ freedom of expression. We urge Anwar’s MADANI government to pull back from the brink, stop harassing UMANY leaders, and restore to students the space to speak, to propose, and to criticise freely!

Ng Yap Hwa, Chairperson of Teoh Beng Hock Association of Democratic Advancement
Wong Yan Ke, Chief of the Youth Section of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall