Freedom of Speech

When I entered college, first known as Kolej Pengajian Persediaan, then it was known as Pusat Pendidikan Persediaan that was housed under ITM (institut Teknologi MARA now known as Universiti ITM), I was first introduced to Akta 174 (174 Act). Akta 174 or its full name Akta Institusi-institusi Pelajaran (Tatatertib) 1976 (Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976.

Educational Institution (Discipline Act 1976

Akta Institusi-institusi Pelajaran (Tatatertib) 1976

We were further exposed to Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti 1971 (Akta 30).

Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti 1971 (AUKU)

Universities and University Colleges Act 1971

What are these? To understand this, we need to look towards the history of it. To look towards history, we need to look a blackmark in Malaysia's history, 13 May 1969. A period where there was racial strife and altercation. It resulted in multiple loss of lives. I am not going to write about May 13, as it's better called, as there are better writers that has spoken in detail about it. I just wrote about it in my University Dissertation for my degree. One day I may share my dissertation here. Not right now.

Here are a few links on 13 May 1969.

As a result of May 13, the government was concerned of students' radicalisation There is an article here that explains about student movements.

https://khazanahnasional.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/the_student_movement_in_malaysia.pdf

Students and villagers demonstration in Baling, Kedah in 1974 against poverty.

After May 13, there was a movement to remove the Prime Minister at that time (PM1), Tunku Abdul Rahman. The growth of these student movements was threatening the government of the day. Some of the leaders at that time were and are prominent existing political figures such as our PMX. There were frequent police incursions into universities to curtail the growth of these movements. As a result of this, an act was mooted where specifically AUKU was passed in 1971.

AUKU had a specific clause, which is key to everything else.

Section 15, that states that

Aktiviti pelajar atau persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan pelajar

(1) Tertakluk kepada subseksyen (2), seseorang pelajar Universiti boleh menjadi ahli mana-mana persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan orang, sama ada di dalam atau di luar Malaysia, termasuk mana-mana parti politik.

(2) Seseorang pelajar Universiti tidak boleh—

(a) menjadi ahli mana-mana persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan orang yang menyalahi undang-undang, sama ada di dalam atau di luar Malaysia;

(b) menjadi ahli mana-mana persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan orang, yang bukannya suatu parti politik, yang ditetapkan oleh Lembaga sebagai tidak sesuai demi kepentingan dan kesentosaan pelajar atau Universiti itu; atau

(3) Seseorang pelajar Universiti dan mana-mana persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan pelajar Universiti yang ditubuhkan oleh, di bawah atau mengikut Perlembagaan, tidak boleh menyatakan atau melakukan apa-apa jua yang boleh semunasabahnya ditafsirkan sebagai menyatakan sokongan kepada atau simpati dengan atau bangkangan terhadap—

(a) mana-mana persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan orang yang menyalahi undang-undang, sama ada di dalam atau di luar Malaysia; atau

(b) mana-mana persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan orang yang ditetapkan oleh Lembaga sebagai tidak sesuai demi kepintingan dan kesentosaan pelajar atau Universiti itu.

(4) Walau apa pun subseksyen (3), seseorang pelajar Universiti tidak boleh dihalang daripada—

(a) membuat pernyataan mengenai sesuatu perkara akademik yang berhubungan dengan perkara yang pelajar itu terlibat dalam pengajian atau penyelidikannya; atau

(b) menyatakan pendirian mengenai perkara yang disebut dalam perenggan (a) dalam sesuatu seminar, simposium atau majlis seumpamanya yang tidak dianjurkan atau ditaja oleh mana-mana persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan orang yang menyalahi undang-undang, sama ada di dalam atau di luar Malaysia, atau mana-mana persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan orang yang 20 30 ditetapkan oleh Lembaga di bawah perenggan (3)(b) sebagai tidak sesuai demi kepentingan dan kesentosaan pelajar atau Universiti itu.

(5) Universiti hendaklah mengawal selia aktiviti pelajar dan persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan pelajar Universiti di dalam Kampus.

In English, just look up Section 15 of the Act attached above. What does this all mean? It curbed, curtailed and basically banned any form of organised political movement. In effect, it curtailed the freedom of speech and expression in universities. When we were in college, we were frequently caught by this section, where it was further expanded and expounded in Akta 174. We were frequently asked to disperse whenever we gathered. Even without such an organised movement, we still managed, and I became one of the leaders to bring improvements to the conditions in our college. Largely, they listened, and when they did not, we bring this matter up during any gatherings or townhalls. We never organised any form of protests, as there isn't any need to, but even with our vocalisation, there were times they still took offense anyway.

I was in college in 1986, that was 37 years ago. The university riots were in 1969 and 1970. The AUKU was passed in 1971, that was 52 years ago. This is 2023, one of the student leaders that was arrested is now our 10th Prime Minister (PMX). Shouldn't we be looking towards repealing the Acts altogether? Students should be allowed to express themselves and embrace their curiosity. That is how we can encourage a culture of research and development.

There are many ways to harness their energy. We could form soup kitchen clubs, or poverty eradication club, where they can volunteer to discuss and develop various concepts, ideas and plans that will assist the state and federal governments to eradicate poverty. Many can be done and demonstrations is definitely not one of them. While it may bring the matter up to local and international attention, but it still won't help the people that needs immediate assistance and support.

As a former student leader, I encourage freedom of thought and freedom of expression. Freedom of speech need to be enshrined, adopted, accepted, and accommodated. However, I have also seen the impact and effect of unfettered freedom. There are some, especially online that is not able to appreciate the freedom, hurting feelings and people in the process.

To me, we need to understand where they are coming from. at times. People are not born being racist, xenophobic, paranoid etc. Something must have happened, either they were educated and brought up in that manner or they faced issues and challenges that made them become such.

We need to educate our children when they are in kindergarten, school, colleges, and universities. They need to understand that we are in this together. This is or country, where we were born and bred. We may have different origins, but those are ancient history. We need to embrace our diversity and encourage unity. We need to celebrate our differences, making us unique. Thus, we need to appreciate the freedom that we have. The freedom of speech, the freedom of expression and they need to be jealously guarded.

When necessary we need to check and balance our leaders. They cannot even think for once that they are able to say anything and everything against anyone and everyone without repercussions. The law should be enforced without fear or favour. That is the price that we should all be willing to pay for the freedom of speech.

Freedom of Speech

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