Campus polls: ‘Anti-establishment’ faction bracing for attack
Sep 9, 05 1:19pm
As the annual campus elections draws near, the so-called ‘anti-establishment’ students are bracing themselves for another onslaught from the well-funded and connected ‘pro-establishment’ faction.
While the Higher Education Ministry has yet to announce a date, the polls are expected to be held simultaneously in 17 varsities nationwide by the end of the month or early next month.
Currently, students are on a one-week school break and the majority of them will resume classes next Monday.
Those vying for a spot on the students representative council - which comprises the winners in the election - have already started their preparations on the ground.
It is also learnt that the ‘pro-establishment’ (also known as government aspiration) faction and the ‘anti-establishment’ (also known as student idealists) faction are in the midst of finalising
their candidates.
Campus elections here are divided along the lines of partisan politics, with the ‘pro-establishment’ team said to be sponsored by the university authorities and backed by the government while the rival faction is seen as leaning towards the opposition.
Campus polls are also keenly observed by politicians as it allows them to gauge the support of students for the various political parties.
Reformasi era
In 1998, following the sacking of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim and the birth of the reformasi movement, the ‘anti-establishment’ faction managed to sweep into power in several universities.
However, the ‘pro-establishment’ faction regained control over the past two years amid allegations of irregularities, money politics and intimidation tactics.
At present, three major universities are said to be controlled by the ‘anti-establishment’ faction.
One student leader said the pressure imposed on the anti-establishment factionÂ’s candidates and supporters and the alleged unfair election rules were the most effective tools used by the campus authorities to ensure victory for the rival faction.
“We have substantial basis and proof to support our claim. Unfair election rules in the past have included electronic voting, the recording of the ballot paper series number, raising the amount of deposit and academic qualification to be a candidate,” he said on condition of anonymity.
(Under the restrictive Universities and University Colleges Act, students are prohibited from speaking to the media unless they obtain written permission from the vice-chancellor.)
In Universiti Malaya last year, the ‘anti-establishment’ candidates boycotted the polls after university officials allegedly refused to endorse their nomination forms without giving any reason.
Previously, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) students had strongly-opposed the implementation of the electronic voting system as it allegedly lacked transparency.
Introduced in 2003, the new system paved the way for ‘pro-establishment’ candidates to take control of the university for the first time that year.
‘Extreme terrorists’
Last year, two UPM student representatives claimed that they were assaulted by varsity officials in the run-up to the polls.
The duo were harassed and their parents had also received threatening calls when they contested in the campus polls as ‘anti-establishment’ candidates.
The Chinese candidates in
the faction also came under fire and leaflets accusing them of ‘extreme terrorists’ were widely distributed.
The ‘anti-establishment’ faction have also complained of their hostel rooms being raided by varsity officials whenever the election draws near.
Students have also been threatened with expulsion from the residential college if they voted for the ‘anti-establishment’ faction.
The ‘anti-establishment’ faction has also cried foul with the move to adjust the number of contested seats as this affected their chances of victory.
There have also been allegations of monetary support coming in from Umno and candidates being promised cash and mobile phones.
Pengarah kampus UiTM didakwa tidak mesra pelanggan
Sep 8, 05 3:22pm
Saya amat terkilan dengan layanan pengarah Kampus Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) cawangan Kedah ketika saya ingin menemui beliau pada jam 12 tengahari 26 Ogos 2005 bagi menyelesaikan beberapa perkara berkaitan perlaksanaan kontrak di kampus tersebut.
Apa yang mendukacitakan, saya tidak dibenarkan menemuinya. Sebabnya, jika ingin berjumpa, kami perlu membuat surat yang menyatakan nama pengarah dengan jelas. Kenapakah berlaku birokrasi seperti itu, sedangkan saya jauh dari Kuala Lumpur untuk tujuan tersebut.
Saya tidak dibenar berjumpa dengan pengarah, sedangkan ketika itu beliau tidak mempunyai tetamu yang lain. Apa yang lebih menyedihkan ialah pengarah tersebut nampak kami di luar perkarangan bilik beliau dan, kami telahpun memaklumkan kepada setiausahanya untuk menemuinya.
Jawapan yang diterima ialah: jika ingin berjumpa dan berbincang dengan beliau, UiTM memerlukan surat yang tertera nama pengarah
tersebut. Patutkah kami menerima layanan sedemikian rupa, hanya kerana pihak memerlukan surat atas namanyam sedangkan kami mahu berbincang mengenai beberapa perkara untuk kebaikan pelajar kampus itu sendiri.
Saya kemudiannya menemui timbalannya, itupun pada jam 5 petang kerana beliau menghadiri mesyuarat. Bagaimanapun, perbincangan dengannya tidak mendatangkan sebarang hasil kerana pegawai yang mempunyai kuasa untuk menyelesaikan masalah tersebut ialah pengarah kampus itu sendiri.
Saya memang telah diingatkan oleh beberapa rakan perniagaan mengenai sikap pengarah terbabit. Bagaimanapun, saya tidak mempercayainya sehinggalah saya mengalaminya sendiri pada hari berkenaan.
Bayangkan jika seorang pak cik tua datang dari kampung pedalaman di Kedah yang ingin membincangkan perkara berkaitan dengan anaknya, tetapi disuruh menulis surat terlebih dahulu untuk berjumpa pengarah ... ahh ... malang sekali.
New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 1GB of free storage!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of Hidayahnet unless sanctioned or approved otherwise.
If your mailbox clogged with mails from Hidayahnet, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest".
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
- Visit your group "hidayahnet" on the web.
- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
