[Utusan]Defisit PTPTN RM48 bilion 2020

Timbalan Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Dr. Hou Kok Chung berkata, kerajaan bimbang masalah tersebut akan menyebabkan bakal peminjam mengalami kesukaran untuk membuat pinjaman pada masa akan datang.

Sehubungan itu kata beliau, kementerian amat berharap para peminjam lebih bertanggungjawab untuk membayar balik pinjaman masing-masing bagi membantu pelajar baru.

‘‘Kerajaan memang prihatin tetapi kita tidak sewenang-wenangnya memberikan pinjaman itu dijadikan seperti biasiswa.

‘‘ Kita harus ingat bahawa PTPTN merupakan tabung pinjaman untuk pelajar sahaja,” katanya ketika menjawab soalan tambahan Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Bebas- Pasir Mas) pada sidang Dewan Rakyat di sini hari ini.

Ibrahim dalam soalannya menyatakan jumlah hutang PTPTN yang tertunggak kini tidak menjadi masalah besar kepada kerajaan berikutan kerajaan mempunyai pendapatan lain, justeru beliau mencadangkan supaya jumlah tunggakan itu dihapuskan.

Terdahulu, Kok Chung menjawab soalan lisan Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (BN-Gua Musang) yang ingin tahu jumlah sebenar tunggakan PTPTN dan apakah perancangan kerajaan dalam membantu siswazah yang tidak berpeluang menerima pinjaman bagi meneruskan pengajian.

Beliau berkata, sehingga 30 September 2009, jumlah yang sepatutnya dibayar balik oleh peminjam kepada tabung ialah RM3.235 bilion melibatkan kira-kira 780,000 pinjaman yang telah diluluskan.

Menurutnya, daripada jumlah tersebut, sebanyak RM346 juta yang dibuat oleh peminjam telah diberi penangguhan bayaran balik manakala sejumlah RM1.535 bilion masih belum dibayar balik.

‘‘Golongan yang enggan dan belum membayar balik ini terdiri daripada mereka yang langsung tidak memberi maklum balas kepada pihak PTPTN,” ujar beliau.

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=1104&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Parlimen&pg=pa_01.htm

Who is prospering from jobless grads?

DATUK Seri Najib Razak’s 2010 Budget is called “1Malaysia, Together we prosper”. Before the prime minister’s multi-million ringgit sloganeering, his predecessor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had introduced the “Prosper” theme. Abdullah in his Oct 30, 2005 budget speech announced “Prosper” or Projek pembangunan usahawan dalam bidang peruncitan to help graduates venture into business. Under Prosper, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) would finance 200 graduates up to RM50,000 each; that easily amounts to RM10 million.

Prosper is an ongoing programme and this year, its attachment training will allow participants to intern in PUNB investee companies. The cost of ensuring this prosperity is, however, not open to public knowledge.

Nonetheless, the RM10 million allocated in Abdullah’s Budget 2006 is clearly a drop in the ocean compared to the RM700 million set aside in Najib’s March 10 mini-budget. The latter’s stimulus package planned to create 163,000 training and job placement opportunities for retrenched workers and unemployed graduates.

Of this number, 50,000 will be absorbed into the civil service, adding to its already obese size and bloated payroll. It is important to note that under the RM191.5 billion 1Malaysia Budget, 72.2% is for operating expenditure, out of which RM42.2 billion is for emoluments. Furthermore last month, a “special financial contribution” (announced earlier) in the form of a year-end bonus totalling RM400 million will be paid to public sector employees from Grades 41 to 54.

 

Treasuring’ human capital

 

It is true that other parts of the world also face the problem of workers getting laid off and school leavers unable to find jobs due to the depressed global economy.

However, Malaysia’s numbers are staggering. Based on estimates, about 60,000 graduates might find it difficult to seek employment at all times, said Najib when launching the Graduate Employability Management Scheme (GEMS) on March 13.

GEMS is run by Khazanah Nasional Berhad under the aegis of the Finance Ministry. The precursor to GEMS is the Graduate Employability Enhancement (GREEN) programme, also tasked to Khazanah in co-operation with GLCs.

We can safely assume that a proportion of these targeted graduates have not been able to find work in the fields in which they hold the requisite paper qualification. Meanwhile, the government continues to fail to address the longstanding lack of relevance of the courses taught in the public universities and the low standards of graduates produced.

Instead of getting it right from the get-go through structural reform of the higher education system (and better still the entire schooling system), our authorities are attempting to fix the shortcomings of graduates who flounder in the competitive marketplace by pouring money to correct their mis-education.

It is all the more worrying when Khazanah’s director of strategic human capital management Azman Mohd Hussein reveals that the unemployed graduates have to be given remedial and practical training for a whole year to improve their communication skills and increase their level of confidence.

And similar to the “Prosper” scenario, the public are not cognizant of Khazanah’s expenditure breakdown either.

 

Hitting rock bottom soon?

 

Something’s very wrong when the situation keeps getting from bad to worse with no light at the end of the tunnel.

As early as Sept 25, 2001, then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had unveiled an economic stimulus package which earmarked RM150 million for 10,000 degree and diploma holders. This allowed them to learn IT, brush up on mathematics and English, in addition to providing RM500 monthly allowances on a temporary basis until end-2002.

“Temporary” appears to have been a misplaced optimism because the chronic problem has persisted for nearly a decade now.

Between January 2004 and June 2005, the government’s human resources development fund paid out RM265.2 million in training grants to individuals. From November 2001 until mid-2006, the Graduate Training Scheme had retrained almost 22,000 unemployed graduates, then human resources minister Dr Fong Chan Onn disclosed in his paper “Developing human capital” delivered on Aug 21, 2006.

Nonetheless, on Dec 27, 2007 a paper presented by the Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) quoted a comment from the minister on the inadequate success rate of the retraining. Ikim research officer Nor Hartini Saari said “roughly RM500 million” had been expended in retraining.

Two years down the road on Oct 20, 2009, Higher Education Minister Mohd Khaled Nordin still talked about RM48 million spent in university partnerships with corporations “in strategic sectors that could improve innovation-based industries and guarantee graduates of job opportunities”.

Unless our public coffers are replenished by King Midas, the government may soon go broke from the “guarantees”.

It is just not sustainable to have the next generation depend on the nanny state even after they have been provided with ample tertiary education opportunities, with generous financial assistance and babysitting after graduation, and eventually bailouts every step of the way.

 

Raiding the public treasury

 

Various ministries and entrepreneurial agencies have set up their own graduate retraining programme and this makes the tracking of fiscal allocations difficult.

For example, the RM7 billion stimulus package revealed by Najib on Nov 4 last year allocated RM300 million for a skills training programme fund (with focus on tourism and “business process outsourcing sectors” among others); RM200 million for programmes by private training institutions and RM100 million for youth programmes at various levels – we see here three intersecting areas.

Then there is “another RM70 million to facilitate employment of retrenched employees and graduates seeking jobs”, a special allocation approved by the cabinet as announced by Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam on Jan 21, 2009 in Putrajaya.

The RM70 million could well be a tranche from the RM600 million-infusion for skills training under Najib’s RM7 billion package a year ago. Or then again, maybe not … who knows. In any case, the RM600 million was augmented by another whopping RM700 million barely four months later under Najib’s second stimulus package.

When so many quarters are involved in the overlapping effort between government agencies, GLCs, and the private sector, only the “special committees” established to manage the funds know the full details.

Even the auditor-general’s office probably does not have the complete picture of how much money is being poured into remedying incompetence in the public universities. And what the results have been. If it does, it would be very important for the public accounts committee to put this information out in the public domain.

It may be argued that the fact that these public funds seem to be going towards so many “facilitators” and “consultancy” companies shows a primarily liberal and laissez-faire approach used by the government to tackle the problem.

Also of some relief is that no monopoly seems to have appeared in cornering the market.

The crush of agencies, ministries and private agents seeking participation in this fast-growing industry of “enhancing graduate employability” should reassure us that there are droves of Malaysians who are driven by patriotism to help our hapless graduates. The unkind among us may suspect that making a quick buck – or rather making buckets of bucks – is more the real motivation.

 

No solution in sight

 

Considering that many of our young adults are no surer of securing jobs after graduation today than they were in 2001 and three prime ministers ago, the public and the current undergraduate population have a right to demand a full accounting of the huge sums of taxpayers’ money spent.

We also need to know the outcome of independent impact studies that can provide empirical data on how effective or ineffective this massive injection of public funds has been.

In the parliamentary debate taking place on the 2010 Budget, there needs to be an explanation on where the total RM1.3 billion appropriated over the recent year for training and retraining purposes went to. And who has prospered from the money.

 

Dr Lim Teck Ghee is director, Centre for Policy Initiatives. Feedback: letters@thesundaily.com.

http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=39667

Call for International Internship 2010

International Internship Program 2010

About The May 18 Memorial Foundation

The May 18 Memorial Foundation was founded by Gwangju citizens, sympathetic Koreans overseas and individuals who believe it’s important to keep the ideas and memories of the 1980 May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising alive.

Please visit http://518.org/eng for more details about the foundation work.

Purpose of the internship programme

2 interns (one male, one female) who will serve for 10 months from March-December 2010.The annual internship program is a crucial part of the Foundation’s mandate to promote international solidarity and further the cause of human rights in Asia.

Through the internship programme the Foundation aims:

1) To improve international solidarity and networking and

2) To promote Gwangju as Asia’s Hub for Human Rights Movement.

Qualifications required

Applicants should be unmarried (single) university graduates not more than 30 years of age, with a minimum of 3 years NGO or social development work experience, though not necessarily in the field of human rights. Preference will be given to those with degrees in human rights-related subjects such as social sciences and communication, and to those who have specialized in human rights issues within these disciplines. Applicants must be computer literate (email/internet, web page, lay-out/design, etc) and proficient in English; working knowledge of Korean is an advantage.

Applicants should be a working member of and organization: applicant cannot apply as individuals without the knowledge/support/recommendation of their current organization.

Please use the following condition to check your eligibility for the Internship Programme before you send us an application.

When to Apply.

Application period: October 29, 2009 until November 30, 2009.

Conditions of service

The relationship between the Foundation and the intern is one of mutual benefit. Interns are assigned to a unit of the Foundation according to the needs of the office and their own areas of interest. They are involved, inter alia, in managing workshops, preparing for the human rights folk school, conducting their own research, working on human rights issues, drafting analytical papers and reports, providing substantive and technical service and so on, depending on the exigencies of the Office. At the same time, the programme aims to increase the intern’s understanding of current human rights issues at the international level.

Interns are assigned to work with a supervisor who is responsible for providing them with a description of duties and a work plan. Upon completion of the internship, both the supervisor and the intern are required to complete a final report describing what was achieved during the internship. In addition, every intern is requested to complete an evaluation questionnaire on his/her assignment and to submit it to the May 18 Memorial Foundation.

He/She must fulfill his/her duties and abide by the rules and regulations of the programme.

Travel costs, airfare and living expenses are provided by the Foundation. Housing will be provided but utilities (telephone/internet, electricity, and gas) will be paid for by interns. Health Insurance will be given to cover accidents/illness incurred during an internship.

An intern who leaves before the end of the internship period will be required to pay any costs incurred and his/her organization will not be allowed to be a network organization in the near future. In case of illness or other circumstances that might prevent the completion of the internship, interns will inform their supervisor.

There is no expectancy of employment at the end of the internship and interns cannot apply for any jobs or pursue a higher degree until the termination of the internship.

Interns are expected to work full-time and to carry out the duties assigned to them. They do not accrue annual leave during the period of the internship. Otherwise, they are bound by the same duties and obligations as regular staff members; in particular, all confidential and unpublished information obtained during the internship may not be used by interns.

rocedure for applying

Applicants should submit the following documentation:

  • your completed, dated and signed internship application form;
  • A copy of your Curriculum Vitae
  • A scanned copy of your valid and not expired passport.
  • A write-up detailing your expectations, objectives, and interest in the human rights internship program (not more than two pages).
  • An official endorsement letter from your superior or head of your organization.
  • An endorsement/Referral Letter from any Alumni/Contact/Network of the Foundation in your country or abroad. (Please check our website links athttp://eng.518.org/eng/html/main.html?TM18MF=06010000)
  • a proof of enrolment in undergraduate studies and a list of courses taken, transcripts of grades or diplomas;
  • a written sample of research work or an abstract of academic papers (3-10 pages maximum), if undertaken.

Closing date for application: 30th Nov.

Selected candidates are normally informed around the first week of January 2010. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified by email and are encouraged to apply the following year.



1 dead, 2 missing, 19 safe after falling into Sg Kampar

Ironically, the iron-cable bridge, suspended about 3 meters over the river, was built recently to replace an old one that had fallen apart with age.

KAMPAR: One girl is dead, two pupils are still missing and nineteen have been found safe after the 22 students fell into Sungai Kampar.

The pupils, on a camping trip, tumbled into the river when the suspension bridge they were crossing broke near Kuala Dipang, Kampar, at about 10pm on Monday.

Police divers searching for 2 missing pupils who had fallen off the suspension bridge at Sungai Kampar in Kuala Dipang on Monday night.

The dead girl was identified as Dina Deve Nathan, 11, from SK Tamil Mambang Diawan. Rescuers found her at Kampung Pasir, about 2km downstream from the broken bridge, at about 8.40am Tuesday. Her body was sent to the Kampar Hospital.

Police said twenty other pupils, who were not on the bridge, escaped unscathed.

Some pupils jumped and shook the bridge

According to one of the survivors, Mohd Azid Teng, 12, from SKJC Bemban near Kampar, the pupils had had supper at SK Kuala Dipang and were crossing the bridge to get to the camping site when a few of the pupils started jumping and shaking the bridge.

A man walking near the ill-fated suspension bridge at Sungai Kampar which collapsed when a group of primary school pupils, who were camping near the river, tried to cross it last night. SAIFUL BAHRI/The Star

The bridge then gave way and he found himself falling into the river along with the other screaming pupils.

Fortunately, he fell into shallow waters and waded out.

Rescuers retrieving the body of Dina Deve Nathan, 11, from SK Tamil Mambang Diawan at 8.40am on October 27.

Bridge newly built

Ironically, the iron-cable bridge, about 10 feet (3 meters) over the river was built recently to replace an old one that had fallen apart with age.

The pupils were among 298 from 60 primary schools from Kampar, Tronoh and Batu Gajah who were attending a co-curriculum activity organised by the Kinta Selatan district education office.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Perak MB oders probe into bridge collapse

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir visited the scene soon after news of the bridge collapse reached him and ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the accident, Bernama reported.

“The suspension bridge was newly built. We want to know if it was built to specifications as it collapsed after a metal pillar got ripped off the ground,” he said.

A metal pillar and its concrete block foundation got ripped off the ground in the incident and part of the bridge walkway was afloat on the river.

The Kampar River is known for extreme water sports. The part of the river where the bridge collapsed is about 30 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep.

Villagers have joined in the search and rescue operation mounted by 222 personnel from the police, Royal Malaysian Navy, Fire & Rescue Department, People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), Civil Defence Department and other agencies.

Meanwhile, at 11.15am Tuesday, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran filed an emergency motion with the Dewan Rakyat Speaker to discuss the collapse of the bridge, Lee Yuk Peng of The Star reported.

Education Ministry sets up probe team; RM10,000 aid to dead Dina’s family

Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who was at the scene Tuesday, said that a team, headed by Education Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Ali Muddin Md Dom, has been set up to investigate the bridge collapse, The Star’s Sylvia Looi reported.

The ministry would give RM10,000 in aid to Dina’s family, said Muhyiddin who is also the Deputy Prime Minister.

source:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/27/nation/20091027085329&sec=nation

Government losses can reach RM28bil a year – or more due to overpayment

The Government could be losing billions of ringgit every year through excessive payments for contracts and procurements for a wide range of things ranging from water tunnels to IT contracts and purchase of computers.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah acknowledged that the amount is a lot but could not give an exact figure.

Estimates based on government spending indicate that if one assumes overpayment on contracts is just 20%, then the losses could come up to as much as RM28 billion a year.

Other mains points from our StarProbe are:

● Hundreds of millions of ringgit in overcharging are taking place for ICT, which is a multi-billion-ringgit industry. Contract prices can sometimes be more than 50% than if the deals were done on a tender basis.

● Project finance on favourable terms from foreign countries – the so-called soft loans – can result in contractors being restricted largely to those from the country providing financing, resulting in considerably higher costs.

● Open tenders, done properly and with appropriate evaluation, are one of the most effective ways of reducing the costs to government. At least two state governments see great benefits in open tenders.

● Malaysia falls short in comparison with other countries in terms of calling for and disclosure of open tenders and their details. There is no centralised system.

● The Government is keen to cut wasteful spending and will, as far as possible, have open tenders from now on.

Related Stories:
● Overpaying by the billions
● A-G’s 2008 report shows project delays, lack of oversight continue to cost govt millions of ringgit
● Overcharged for ICT It mainly involves outsourced services
● Government: No more wasteful spending
● Johor practises open tender
● The Penang experience
● RM9bil to build police facilities
● Are tenders open and fair?

谈“警察扣留期间死亡事件”

编按:2009年10月25日(星期日)柔佛州人民之友工委会纪念成立八周年(2001-2009),举办讲座会,邀请资深律师杨培根主讲“警察扣留期间死亡事件”,这是杨培根的讲稿,分(上)、(下)刊出。
《禁止酷刑和其他残忍和不人道待遇公约》任择书

2002年12月18日,联合国通过《禁止酷刑和其他残忍和不人道待遇公约》任择书(Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel and Unusual Treatment,简称《禁止酷刑公约》)。

“任择书”是联合国的特殊机制,其主要目的是规定:签署择书的国家,必须允许国际的和本国的人权专家们检查国内的扣留犯的扣留条件,以及他们所遭受的待遇。人权专家们还可向相关国家建议,改善扣留者的待遇,以符合《禁止酷刑公约》及人道主义。

表决任择书——马来西亚弃权

2002年,“《禁止酷刑公约》任择书”在联合国付诸表决时,结果情形如下:127个国家表示支持,42个国家表示弃权,四个国家表示反对。

马来西亚竟然是42个弃权国家之一,不投票支持任择书。我国不投票“背书”“任择书”,意味着我国不欢迎联合国和我国人权专家到我国来,检验扣留所(或扣留营)内扣留者的扣留条件,以及扣留者是否遭受到恶劣的待遇。

马来西亚弃权不投票,类似“此地无银三百两”的作法,不得不让人作出一个结论,那就是,我国不准备根据《禁止酷刑公约》的准则来维护我国人民的基本人权。

亚洲人权委员会:我国人权差劲

针对我国所持的立场,亚洲人权委员会指出,那是不会令人感到意外的。他们举出的理由是:长期以来,马来西亚警察在逮捕嫌犯或对证人进行盘问等调查工作时,经常对他们施以一般国家所不能容忍的暴力行为。亚洲人权委员会是经过仔细调查后,才对我国作出不利的评价。(见亚洲人权委员会近年来对马来西亚所做的人权报告)

“亚洲人权委员会”也指出了下列几点:

一、《联邦宪法》虽保障聘请辩护律师权利,但警方却自认为有权拒绝律师会见嫌犯,因为我国《宪法》没写明会见律师的时间。亚洲人权委员会认为,警方这项绝对权力是不合理的。

二、许多嫌犯家境贫困,又没受过多少教育,又无法“拉关系”和警方搞好关系,以避免不受折磨。

三、我国警方人员举止粗暴、贪污、使用暴力、采用高压手段的事件,时有所闻。警方人员权力似为超然于法律,不根据法律行事;有时只靠“怀疑”就“先拘捕,后调查”,正常的程序应该是“先调查,才拘捕”。

四、以警察扣留期间死亡案件来说,警方经常提出的理由是:嫌犯死于“自杀”、“心脏病忽发”、“胃溃疡”或“自然死亡”等。

五、当局提控违纪的警方人员时,所提出的控状总是“避重就轻”。有时,当局只提控低级警方人员,不提控高级警官。亚洲人权委员会举出了一个例子:轰动一时的“李月良死亡案件”。在此案中,死因调查庭确认:有11名警官,包括高级警长涉及此案。但是,结果只有两名低级警方人员被提控。

上述这段文字,引述自亚洲人权委员会最近发表的一份关于马来西亚人权报告书。

我国扣留所死亡人数没准确数据

我国监狱和扣留所死亡人数究竟有多少,似乎无法找到准确答案。官方数据和民间数据相差其远。下面举出一些例子:

(1)2009年7月23日,马来西亚人民之声发表了最新的《2008年人权报告》,显示的数据如下:2003年至2007年(四年内)的全国死亡人数为1535人,2008年(一年内)监牢死亡人数为255人,警察扣留所死亡人数为13人。

(2)2009年3月间,民主行动党国会议员刘镇东在国会向内政部长所获取的答案是:1999年至2009年(10年)监狱、改造所、非法劳工扣留所死亡人数为2571人,医院就医期间死亡人数(总死亡人数的98.7%)为2536人,送医院途中死亡人数为22人,监牢内死亡人数为13人。

人民之声最新的《2008年人权报告》

马来西亚人民之声每年都发表一份关于我国公民与政治权利的《人权报告》。根据马来西亚人民之声最新的一份《2008年人权报告》,在2008年,内政部长发表了警察扣留期间,嫌犯或犯人死亡的统计数据。(上面已谈过)

据内政部长还透露,2000年至2006年期间,共有108人于警察扣留期间死亡。在2000年至2007年间,柔佛州新邦令金扣留中心有95人死亡。

警方践踏人权由来已久

早在13年前(1996年),非政府组织发表了我国第一份《人权报告》,就提到了我国警察扣留期间屡屡发生扣留者离奇死亡的事件。(这是继1994年《马来西亚人权宪章》出台后,所发表的报告)

1991年7月18日,国会透露的官方数据如下:1980年至1990年(10年内)扣留者死亡人数为151名。

从上述官方和民间数据看来,不容易看出我国警察扣留期间(in police custody)死亡人数,以及扣留所死亡(deaths in lockups)人数。

较突出的警察扣留所死亡案件

政府没透露详情,如:扣留者死因以及过后所采取的措施。显然,政府并没有很好的监管警察在扣留期间导致扣留者的死亡事件。

早在1995年至1997年间,大众媒体就曾报道过警察扣留期间的死亡事件。下面是几宗较为突出的案件,从这些案件可以看出警方滥权的程度:

(一)1995年李国良(Lee Quat Leong)案

一名42岁的技工,因涉嫌参与打抢银行而被逮捕。但是,他于1995年5月12日在警方扣留期间被打死。验尸庭经过调查发现有11名警官涉及此案,其中有四名高级警官得负刑事责任。1995年12月14日《远东经济评论》报道说,验尸结果发现死者身上有45处外伤,七支肋骨折断。可是,11名警官中只有两名警察被提控,坐监18个月而已。

(二)2002 年拉古巴迪案

2002年7月,一伙年轻人踫上一辆在执行巡逻任务的警车。警官怀疑他们和一起罪案有关,一伙人都被逮捕,其中一人拉古巴迪曾进行过心脏手术。他在扣留所时胸部感到疼痛,三天不能进食,还呕吐,警方却不理。隔了几天,警方才带他到政府诊疗所,但没有医生,只有一名男护士给他一些气喘的药物,病情是警员告诉他的。

隔天病情恶化,警员送他到布城医院。第二天,医院证实他已死亡。过了两个月,副内政部长在国会中说,警方不必负起任何刑事责任。

(三)威华山努案

另一死者威华山努(Vivasanu Pillay)死亡情况更加离奇。本来死者被警察扣留,可是隔不了多久,有人在一条河里发现他腐化的尸体。警方说,他是逃离吉隆坡金马区(Dang Wangi)警署后失足溺毙于河中。不过死者家属指出,在警方扣留期间他就已离奇死亡,接着尸体被丟入河中。副内政部长在国会宣布,他的死亡和警方人员无关。

(四)1995年原住民苏旦(Sudan a/l Lolam)案

1996年3月4日,西马原住民协会(非政府组织)向彭亨州警察总监投诉,有一名原住民九个月前在警方扣留期间死亡。警方却说,他在扣留所自己用背心上吊自杀。

(五)1995年扣留中心45名外劳死亡

1995年中,经过非政府组织Tenaganita调查发表报告,副内政部长默卡朱尼也在国会证实:共有46名外劳在几个外劳扣留中心死亡,其中士毛月扣留中心就有42 名外劳死亡。据说,他们是死于一般疾病,如:脚气病、胃病等。政府没发表任何验尸报告。马来西亚医药协会指出,其实这些疾病都是能及时治好的。至今,没有人被控以刑事疏忽罪行。

(六)2009年苦根(Kugan)案

2009年1月15日,22岁的印籍青年苦根被逮捕后扣留在梳邦TAIPAN警察局,在警方扣留五天期间突然死亡。他被指偷车,在受警方盘问期间失去知觉,过后送往沙登(serdang)医院,宣布死亡。

苦根家属发觉他身上有严重伤痕,他们把两名印籍副部长召到验尸房,但警方却怪两名副部长干预警方调查工作。

医生起初断定苦根死于“肺积水”,他家属不满,召来马大医院做第二次验尸。检验结果证明除了“肺积水”,他还被粗大物件致伤,卫生部设立的“十人调查委员会”则证明,死者身上的伤痕是用粗大物件,如橡胶水喉管类重复殴打所致,最后导致他死亡。

起初,警方矢口否认苦根的死亡与警方暴行有关,公众與论哗然,总检察长不得不指令警方调查此案,有11名警方人员因而被调职。但是,根据网络媒体《当今大马》10月1日报道,只有一名警察被提控,控状是:他逼供致伤死者,可能面对最高刑罚坐牢七年和罚款,也可能被提控严重致伤死者,刑罚十年监禁。这显然是当局在社会與论压力下所作出的決定。

不过,死者家属的代表律师哥宾星则责问,为什么不控告他谋杀罪,然后由法官酙情减低控状?他也责问,为什么不提控其他参与并涉及的警官?

据报道,死者是被嫌犯用橡胶水喉管毒打致伤,四天后就死亡。但是总检察长解释说,嫌犯并没即刻置死者于死地,是过了四天后他才死亡,所以不能提控他谋杀罪。

(七)2009年赵明福死亡案件

在野党民主行动党的一名政治助理离奇死亡,他原本只是被反贪污委员会(MACC,以前叫反贪污局,ACA)传召为证人,到反贪委会办公室问话,协助调查关于区区马币两千元的所谓贪污案。但是,隔天他尸体橫陈在隔邻的另一建筑物的屋顶上,他是在反贪委会扣留期间死亡的。

这宗离奇死亡案件受到全马人民的关注,政府不得不特別处理。起初,反贪委会成员提出各种各样的解释但漏洞百出。最后,在社会與论压力下,首相不得不宣布成立皇家调查委员会。但是,不是为了调查死因,而是为了调查反贪委会是否有根据合法程序进行调查工作。另由验尸庭调查死因,这是叠床架屋的作法。

后来为了平息公愤,首相特地到死者家庭告诉死者家属,有必要的话将会由皇家调查委员会调查死因。

谈“警察扣留期间死亡事件”(下)

政府调查手法异乎寻常

政府处理此案手法异于寻常,由皇家调查委员会调查反贪委会是否采用合法的调查程序,另由死因调查庭调查死因,那是本末倒置的作法。调查死因的重要工作本应由皇家委员会来进行,为什么交由一个刚从法科毕业不久的低级司法官员(推事)来处理而不交由德高望重、学有所成的调委会成员(包括法律界人士和医学专才)去处理呢?

前部长再益:内阁企图“掩盖事实”

前首相署部长再益依布拉欣抨击政府内阁这个决定,认为那纯粹是一种企图“掩盖事实的伎俩”。他说:“我们的国家病了,人民将不会从政府口中获得真相”。(见《独立新闻在线》2009年7月24日的报道)

时评家金格:凭空捏造死因

《当今大马》也刊登了社会评论员金格(Kim Quek)的文章。金格认为,首相纳吉最后答应设立皇家委员会是为了平息公愤。但是令人失望的是,这近乎是一种玩弄民众的伎俩,因为调委会不调查死因而只调查反贪委会盘问程序是否合法。

金格形容调委会的设立好像学校调查某个学生被鞭打致死事件,校方设立听证会只是调查校方纪律程序问题是否有差错,而不是调查这名学生如何死亡、为何会死亡。

2009年10月22日各报报道:80%他杀,20%自杀

10月21日,雪州政府聘请来自泰国的国际闻名法医庞缇(Porntip)在验尸庭供证。她在研究了验尸报告、X光照和多张照片后,达致结论:赵明福的死因其中80%为被人杀害,只有20%可能是自杀。她发觉死者头骨破裂,肛门受伤因物件插入所致,臀部右下方遭木棍打伤,颈伤有勒痕,这些伤处都并非坠楼所致。

有人建议:警察传召时,应采取步骤保护自己

这就导致有人最近在《激流月刊》(Aliran)写文章提醒大家,万一被警方或反贪污局传召应采取步骤保护自己(见近期Aliran,George Aeria的文章)。他认为,当被传召时,为了保护自己,最好能做到下列几点:

(一)哪一间警署?
• 如果警方把你当作嫌犯或传召你当证人时,必须弄清楚你得到哪一个警署去做供。如果是要你做证人,你可选择对你本身适合的时间和地点为警方做口供。例如:你可要求在某一天几点钟在你的律师楼和警方见面和做口供。

(二)律师或朋友陪同
• 传召后,即刻到另一间警署去报案。別只身前往,应有朋友,最好是律师陪同。

(三)身心都健康
• 到了这间警署报案时,说:
• 目前,你没有任何问题(指社会、个人、商业上或财务上的问题)。因此,你完全没有意思在警署自杀。
• 你的身体健康,没有什么病痛,也没有能导致你猝然死亡的伤痛。
• 你身上没有伤痕,也没有浮肿的迹象。换句话说,你的身体健康得很。
• 突然死亡?万一我在警方扣留所突然死亡,这就意味着我已被杀害。
• 决定六点离开,扣留时间一超过下午六点,你决定离开警署。如果到时还没离开,那就意味着,我已被迫留在警署,警方还在逼供。

(四)报案纸副本交律师朋友
• 报案后,应把一份报案纸副本交给你的律师朋友,自己保留一份,存在口袋里。

(五)应各自离开
• 你和朋友或律师离开报案的警署时,应“分道扬镳”,各自离开。

(六)过后才到警署接受“问话”

(七)报案纸交查案警官
• 见了“问话”官员,即刻就把你口袋里的报案纸交给他,同时告诉他,副本在你律师手中。(必须确保这个时候你的律师朋友已不在场。不然,他可能也被“问话”,报案纸可能被没收。)

这一切都是为了保障你的人身安全,警官才不至于对你作出不法行为,你也不至于变成一个大袋装着的尸体,或者得用担架抬到医院的紧急室里。

什么是皇家调查委员会?

皇家调查委员会,有人译作“皇家委员会”(Royal Commission of Inquiry,RCI)。由国家元首委任的独立调查机构,其成员由德高望重的社会人士所组成。他们的职责就是调查国家发生的严重问题,它是英国议会民主制度的产物。

从1830年起,皇家委员会开始流行。其成员包括不同经历的人,广泛收集证据和意见。到了1948年,英国已建立了一百多个皇家委员会,如:司法改革委员会、宗教改革委员会、济贫法委员会等。委员会的报告作为蓝皮书出版,委员会报告旨在提高效率、确定程序以及改良行政方法等。(见《牛津法律大辞典》)

可是,这些委员会有很多缺点,如:消耗大量时间和钱财,又不一定能达到预期的效果,反倒成了政府的工具,利用来缓和民众对一些丑闻的愤怒情绪。

沈观仰:皇家委员会起制约均衡作用

时评家沈观仰认为,皇家委员会在民主社会里能起着制约均衡的作用,长期好好利用能推进民主制度的发展。皇家委员会一旦成立,政府不能阻止它操作,必须让它运作到结束为止。因此,政府都不大愿意设立皇家委员会。赵明福的真正死因可能不会真相大白,但是,囯阵可能在下届大选付出昂贵的代价。(见《当今大马》2009年7月25日报道,沈观仰的《形同跛脚鸭的皇家委员会》)

什么是验尸庭?

所谓验尸庭,其实并不是真正检验尸体的法庭,它是普通的推事庭(Magistrate’s Court)。推事是低级法官,他得查出死者死因。我国大众媒体都称呼这类推事庭为“验尸庭”(编按:coroner’s court,本刊译作“死因调查庭”)。

有人建议采用“死因调查庭”,以反映这类法庭的真正职责。在香港,这类法庭则称为“死因裁判庭”。调查的目的,不是为了查出谁是罪犯,而是为了查出死因。它完全得依赖副检察司(DPP)的帮助,才能进行调查死因,而副检察司只能依赖警方所提供的证据传召证人出庭作证,推事只能考虑警方所提呈的供词或证据。

其他国家(如:英国或澳洲)想当验尸庭主,必须由至少要有五年执业经验的律师或医生来担任。

人权律师西华:验尸庭缺点多多

办刑事案富有经验的人权律师兼国会议员西华拉沙(Sivarasa)曾在一篇文告中指出,在“司法与法律部门”管辖下,推事作为低级司法官员,经常从司法部与主控官部门之间互相调动,存在偏袒或“官官相护”的现象。

更糟的是,副检察司还是推事的上司!上司在推事庭前办案,推事能秉公处理案件吗?这几年来,不少调查工作常受阻挠,因为推事、副检察司和警方不太愿意认真合作。结果,没有一个警官被查出有犯罪行为。

大部分死亡案件都定为“自然死亡”或“猝然死亡”或“死因不明”。早期也发生过,调查的结论是:“死者被不明人士所杀”。为什么会得出这类结论呢?那全是因为推事调查死因范围只局限在警方所提供的证据,他不能自行传召他需要的证人。

调查完毕,推事把调查结果和证据呈交检察司,嫌犯是否会被提控全由总检察长决定,推事无权过问。英国则不同,他们有另外特设的死因调查庭,而不是由推事担任这份调查死因的工作。

皇家委员会和验尸庭有什么不同?

皇家委员会和验尸庭两者之间有什么不同?皇家委员会的权力比验尸庭大得多。首先,调查庭有权传召任何人当证人出庭供证,验尸庭则没有这样的权力。

推事只能根据警方所提供的呈堂证据裁定死因,他只能裁定死者自杀、他杀、被不知名人士所杀害、死因不明或未能查明死因,故裁决“死因未详”等。

另外一点,皇家委员会的成员是由法律界和医学界等学有所长的专才来胜任,显得较为中立。

我国历年来共设立九个皇家调查委员会

根据人权律师西华的调查,自建国以来我国共设立了九个皇家调查委员会。其中较为人们所关注的有下列四宗:

(一)烟花厂爆炸案(Sungai Buloh)

这惨案发生在20至30年前,被人称为“明亮的烟花棒惨案”(Bright Sparklers Disaster)。事因在雪兰莪双溪毛糯(Sungai Buloh)的地方,有一间存在已久的“明亮的烟花棒”制造烟花的工厂。有一天,工厂不知何故突然爆炸,导致六人死亡,多名员工受伤,引起全国关注。为了平息众怒,政府随即成立了皇家委员会,调查工厂发生爆炸事件的原因。

过了好多年,都不见调查报告书出炉。后来有传言指,这个烟花厂是属于巫统某个重要部长的。不过,公司是注册在他亲戚名份下。工厂生产烟花已整整十年了,但是这工厂并没有合法的执照!可是,它却一直都在生产烟花。在众人的印象中,政府似乎没有公开发表过什么调查报告书,整个案件似乎也就这么不了了之。

(二)监督警察滥权委员会(IPCMC)

2004年尾,鉴于我国警察滥权现象丛生,时任首相阿都拉成立了皇家委员会,调查公众人士对警察部队不满的情况并寻求对策。2005年5月16日,前最高法院院长再丁为首的皇家调查委员会花了不少心血发表一本厚达433页的皇家委员会报告书,提出125项建议,似乎准备大事改革马来西亚警察部队。前首相甚至订下了成立“监督警察滥权委员会”(Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission,IPCMC)的日期。

但是一直都没有成立监督警察滥权委员会,政府后来却采用“偷龙转凤”的手法,把另一类毫无实质效果的委员会——特別投诉委员会(Special Complaints Commission,SCC),塞进国会以取代监督警察滥权委员会。据报载,这个月(2009年10月)特別投诉委员会法案将交由国会辩论通过。

其实,特別投诉委员会并不是我们所期待的监督警察滥权委员会。它被人形容为一个邮箱,最终警察滥权事件还是由反贪委会处理,非政府组织等众人都反对。《当今大马》最近报道,前警察总长哈聂夫也要政府确保特別投诉委员会必须含有监督警察滥权委员会的主要內容(核心的组成部分)(见2009年10月7日的youtube)。到目前为止,政府并没有意愿成立监督警察滥权委员会。

(三)重新举行地方议会选举

1965年前,我国原本有地方议会选举。但是,1964年发生了印尼对抗马来西亚的事件,政府以这事件做为理由或借口,取消了在1965年和1966年的全国地方议会选举。

四年后(1968年),政府成立了以阿迪那哈本律师或上议员为首的皇家委员会,调查是否应恢复地方议会选举。经过详细调查,他建议:全国应恢复地方议会选举。可是,过了三年政府仍然没有动静。1971年,这份报告书转由首相署的一个小小行政单位研究。结果,这个行政单位竟拟就另一份报告书,推翻了皇家委员会恢复地方议会选举的建议。从此,我国就不再有民选地方议会,地方议员全由执政党委任。到了今天,我们的地方议员都是官委的,不是民选的。实质上,民主制度在倒退,地方议会应由人民选出,而不应由执政党委任。官委地方议员不可能一心一意为人民服务,只能听命于执政党,为执政党服务。

其实,1964年“印尼对抗”和1969年“513事件”只是当权者用来废除民选地方议会的借口。真正的原因是,当时有个强大的社会主义阵线(社阵),具有优良的群众根基。当时越来越多的地方议会、市议会都在社阵执政和掌控下,这对当时的联盟政府非常不利。为了巩固政权,当权者不愿意恢复地方议会选举。

(四)林甘司法丑闻(Lingam Tape)

林甘律师公然介入委任法官事件。政府成立皇家调查委员会针对林甘司法丑闻一案出版了一份很厚的报告书,列出犯罪证据,显示林甘律师和多名法官、政治人物、商业大亨互相勾结的事实。可是,后来却不见总检察署采取任何行动。前首相署部长再益最近提起林甘司法丑闻一事指出,政府处理这问题的手法,暴露了总检察署不敢进一步跟进林甘案件。

皇家委员会调查结果显示,我国司法制度出现了不可思议且极不健康的怪现象。但是,没有任何人因此而被提控。不过,这个司法丑闻影响了去年308大选成绩;许多选民转投在野党,使国阵受到很大的挫折。

2009年10月22日《新海峡时报》头条新闻报道,首相回答林冠英国会询问时说,反贪污局报告没有证据证明委任法官有滥权之处,反贪委会決定不再继续调查。早些时候,皇家委员会直指六人应被调查。

我国为什么频频发生扣留期间死亡事件?

我国频频发生扣留所死亡事件,主要原因是:我国人民起码的基本人权不受尊重。警方并不重视宝贵的生命,只一味进行严格的问话和盘问,只求达到目的,不择手段。

就如杜乾焕博士最近所说的,当权者对“良好施政”并没多大兴趣,因此对监管警察滥权的行为提不起劲。皇家调查委员会所建议的监督警察滥权委员会(IPCMC)至今仍束之高阁,为了掩人耳目、蒙混过关,政府将在国会通过《特殊投诉委员会》(SCC)以取代监督警察滥权委员会(IPCMC)。

结语:警察应是人民公仆

我国是奉行民主的国家,但是,我国警察作为公务员就是人民的公仆,应保护人民在宪法下所享有的基本人权。对待人民,举止应温文尔雅,而不应采取粗暴的态度。人民才是老板,警察是公务员也就是人民公仆。所以,警察应抱着为民服务的态度,这才能体现我国是一个民主社会。

可是,在我国情形并不是这样。警察部队和反贪委会官员在对待证人和嫌犯采取粗暴态度,不像是人民公仆,更像是人民的主人。这就导致在警方扣留期间,扣留者离奇死亡事件层出不穷。

最典型的例子就是赵明福离奇死亡案件,没有人愿意对此案负起责任。人人都在推搪责任,提出完全不成理由的理由。他们这么做,其实是在侮辱我国人民的智慧。

警察沦为镇压异议分子的工具

上面已说过,警察部队是用纳税人的钱建立起来的,应是一支为人民服务的队伍。他们应该为人民服务的公仆,维持社会治安,保卫国家和人民的财产。

但是,看来当权者对良好施政没多大兴趣,只是在想方设法夺取民联的州政权,好继续维持其统治以及维护统治集团及其朋党的利益。他们无心把警察部队训练成为一支为人民服务的队伍,反把警察部队当作镇压在野党和异议分子的工具。

为维护政权 当权者动用国家机器

最近发生的赵明福离奇死亡事件,更进一步说明了当权者为了保住其政权不惜动用另一副国家机器——反贪委会,打击雪州民联政府,希望把民联雪州政府搞跨。

试想,反贪委会要调查的只是区区所谓马币两千元的贪污舞弊案,竟使到在野党干部赵明福莫名其妙地死去。反观巫统州务大臣基尔花了不明不白的马币2400万元建起了“宫殿”(被人称为“基宫”),不见警方和反贪委会向人民交代他们如何进行认真的调查。

这些事件说明,为了夺取和维持政权,当权者可以动用任何可使用的国家机器来对付异己分子,甚至把他们置于死地。难怪有人认为,“国家”主要是一个维持政权的暴力机器,而警察、军队等只是这副机器的一部分。只要统治集团认为政权已受到威胁,他们就会动用这副机器来镇压和排除异己。对他们来说,政权高于一切,只要能维持政权,他们就能为所欲为,继续搞其金钱政治、朋党主义、裙带风主义以及贪污舞弊行为,但却又能消遙法外。

我国人民的基本人权和民主权利必须得到尊重。目前,对良好施政无多大兴趣的当权者是不会认真尊重人民的基本人权的。只有靠众人的力量去争取,要分清敌友,设法建立起一个比较能照顾人民利益的政权。只有这样,我国人民的基本人权和民主权利才能得到保障。(完)

(2009年8月29日完稿)

转载自:http://www.merdekareview.com/

Memorandum to Suhakam on UM case (17/10/2009)

suhakam-logo

1.0 Pengenalan

Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) merupakan sebuah pertubuhan mahasiswa yang dianggotai oleh Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (GAMIS), Gerakan Demokratik Belia dan Pelajar Malaysia (DEMA), Jawatankuasa Kebajikan Mahasiswa/i (JKMI), Kelab Rakan Siswa Islah Malaysia (KARISMA), Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Indenpenden (KAMI) dan Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM). SMM memandang serius terhadap tindakan tatatertib yang dikenakan terhadap 8 mahasiswa UM.

Tindakan yang dilakukan oleh pihak Universiti Malaya (UM) adalah tidak profesional. Pihak Universiti Malaya telah mengenakan tindakan Kaedah-Kaedah Universiti Malaya (Tatatertib Pelaja-Pelajar) di bawah Akta Universiti dan Universiti Kolej (AUKU) terhadap 8 aktivis mahasiswa kerana mengundang ‘pihak luar’ menghadiri acara di UM. Jika didapati bersalah oleh pihak universiti, 8 orang mahasiswa boleh dikenakan tindakan, antaranya diberi amaran keras, denda tidak melebihi RM200, digantung atau dipecat daripada universiti berkenaan. Jika mereka gagal hadir ke prosiding tersebut, mereka boleh dikenakan tindakan penggantungan dengan serta-merta.

Tujuan utama memorandum ini adalah bagi mendedahkan pencabulan hak asasi oleh pihak universiti dalam menjalankan tugas di kampus. Justeru memorandum ini disediakan sebagai bukti kesungguhan mahasiswa dalam memeperjuangkan hak asasi mahasiswa. Sehubungan itu, memorandum ini diserahkan kepada pihak Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia untuk diambil perhatian dan tindakan yang sewajarnya bagi menjamin masa depan dan hak asasi mahasiswa.

2.0 Tajuk Memorandum:

Ketidakpuasan terhadap tindakan Universiti Malaya (UM) mengenakan tindakan tatatertib ke atas 8 aktivis mahasiswa.

3.0 Latar Belakang

3.1) Saw Yee Fung dan 5 mahasiswa PBCUM

Saw Yee Fung dan 5 mahasiswa yang dikenakan oleh tindakan tatatertib merupakan pemimpin and ahli Persatuan Bahasa Cina UM (PBCUM). Mereka dikenakan tindakan dalam Kaedah-Kaedah Universiti Malaya (Tatatertib Pelaja-Pelajar) di bawah Akta Universiti dan Universiti Kolej (AUKU) atas sebab mengundang ‘pihak luar’ menghadiri acara di UM.

Kronologi

Tarikh

Insiden

8hb September 2009

Aktivis-aktivis PBCUM telah menganjurkan pertandingan debat dalam bahasa Cina berjudul ‘Antara Pakatan Rakyat dan BN: Yang Mana Lebih Menggelisahkan?’ Mereka telah mengundang Teresa Kok (EXCO kanan Selangor), Wong Nai Chee (ahli jawatankuasa pusat MCA) dan Koh Kok Wee (DJ Radio 988) untuk mengadili program debat tersebut. Selain itu, Teoh Nie Ching  yang merupakan wakil rakyat DAP Serdang dan Victor Gu, seorang pemimpin MCA Selangor juga dijemput sebagai pendebat di acara itu.

Sebelum pertandingan debat bermula, Bahagian Hal Ehwal Pelajar (BHEP) telah menelefon pihak panganjur PBCUM untuk memberi amaran. Alasan yang dibagi adalah kerana aktiviti yang dianjurkan mempunyai unsur politik. Tetapi pertandingan debat itu masih dapat diteruskan tanpa sebarang masalah.

7hb Oktober 2009

Saw Yee Fung dan 5 mahasiswa dipanggil untuk menghadiri satu prosiding yang ditetapkan pada 12hb Oktober 2009 pada pukul 11.30am. Tujuan prosiding tersebut adalah untuk menentukan sebarang tindakan yang akan dikenakan ke atas mereka atas pelanggaran sebarang tatatertib universiti, manakala tuduhan yang dikenakan adalah mengundang ‘pihak luar’ menghadiri acara di UM.

12hb Oktober 2009

Prosiding terhadap mahasiswa UM yang dituduh telah ditangguh tanpa pemberitahuan tarikh. Tiada sebarang alasan yang kukuh diberi untuk penangguhan tersebut.

13 Oktober 2009

Notis kepada mahasiswa-mahasiswa terlibat dikeluarkan oleh sekretariat jawatankuasa tatatertib pelajar UM. Tuduhan juga diubah daripada mengundang ‘pihak luar’ manghadiri acara di UM kepada membenarkan ‘pihak luar’ menghadiri aktiviti di UM. Prosiding telah ditangguh ke 20hb Oktober 2009 dan akan dijalankan di fakulti kejuruteraan Universiti Malaya pada jam 10.30 pagi.

3.2) Muhammad Haafizuddin Abererah dan Abu Ubaidah Amir Abdul Malik

Muhammad Haafizuddin Abererah dan Abu Ubaidah Amir Abdul Malik meruapkan ahli-ahli Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam Universiti Malaya (PMIUM). Mereka dituduh menjemput setiausaha kepada menteri besar Selangor, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad untuk melibatkan diri dalam mesyuarat agung persatuan tersebut.

Kronologi

Tarikh

Insiden

14hb Mac 2009

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad yang merupakan Setiausaha Politik kepada Menteri Besar Selangor dan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Seri Setia dijemput oleh PMIUM bagi merasmikan Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan serta memberikan ucapan dalam program berkenaan. Mesyuarat Agung tersebut diadakan di Auditorium Kejuruteraan, Fakulti Kejuruteraan, Universiti Malaya dan bermula pada pukul 9.30 pagi.

7hb Oktober 2009

Muhammad Haafizuddin Abererah dan Abu Ubaidah Amir Abdul Malik dipanggil untuk menghadiri satu prosiding yang ditetapkan pada 12hb Oktober 2009 pada pukul 11.30am. Tujuan prosiding tersebut adalah untuk menentukan sebarang tindakan yang akan dikenakan ke atas mereka atas pelanggaran sebarang tatatertib universiti, manakala tuduhan yang dikenakan adalah mengundang ‘pihak luar’ menghadiri acara di UM

12hb Oktober 2009

Prosiding terhadap mahasiswa UM yang dituduh telah ditangguh tanpa pemberitahuan tarikh. Tiada sebarang alasan yang kukuh diberi untuk penangguhan tersebut.

13 Oktober 2009

Notis kepada mahasiswa-mahasiswa terlibat dikeluarkan oleh sekretariat jawatankuasa tatatertib pelajar UM. Tuduhan juga diubah daripada mengundang ‘pihak luar’ manghadiri acara di UM kepada membenarkan ‘pihak luar’ menghadiri aktiviti di UM. Prosiding telah ditangguh ke 20hb Oktober 2009 dan akan dijalankan di fakulti kejuruteraan Universiti Malaya pada jam 10.30 pagi.

4.0 Antara pekara yang menindas hak asasi manusia:-

Kebebasan Bersuara Mahasiswa

Universiti Malaya (UM) merupakan sebuah institusi pengajaran awam yang dihormati di Malaysia. Malah, university tersebut telah diiktiraf sebagai universiti yang ke-180 terbaik di dunia pada tahun 2009 oleh Times Higher Education. Sebagai university yang cemerlang, ia mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk mematuhi dan menghormati Artikel ke-10 Perlembagaan Malaysia serta Artikel ke-19 dalam Deklarasi Universal Hak Asasi Manusia (UDHR) yang memperuntukkan kebebasan bersuara.

Tindakan tatatertib yang dikenakan terhadap 8 orang mahasiswa yang hanya mengadakan aktiviti perbincangan bersifat ilmiah dan intelek jelas mencabuli hak mahasiswa. Selain itu, tindakan tersebut juga tidak mencerminkan kebebasan akademik oleh universiti. Universiti sepatutnya mempunyai tanggungjawab dalam menyediakan keadaan konduksif yang menggalakan penglibatan mahasiswa dalam perbincangan isu-isu semasa negara.

Universiti juga perlu menggalakkan mahasiswa-mahasiswa menglibatkan diri secara aktif dalam dialog yang merangsang pemikiran mahasiswa dengan menjemput pendebat atau tokoh yang berilmu dan terkenal. Ini dapat menggalakkan pertukaran pendapat yang sihat dan berfaedah untuk semua mahasiswa.

Pihak Universiti Malaya tidak seharusnya menghadkan sebarang aktivism mahasiswa atas alasan berunsurkan politik. Sebaliknya, pihak universiti perlu menggalakan mahasiswa berkomunikasi dan berinteraksi dengan setiap lapisan masyarakat tanpa mengira faham politik dan ideologi. Dengan menghadkan sebarang perbincangan secara intelek akan memberikan kesan yang buruk terhadap kredibiliti universiti.

Tuntutan-tuntutan:

1) Membatalkan semua tuduhan dan tindakan tatatertib terhadap 8 orang mahasiswa serta-merta dan tanpa sebarang syarat.

2) Menghormati autonomi mahasiswa dalam mengadakan aktiviti serta menghentikan segala intimidasi terhadap mahasiswa-mahasiswa.

3) Mematuhi dan menghormati kebebasan bersuara mahasiswa seperti yang terdapat dalam Artikel-19 Deklarasi Universal Hak Asasi Manusia dan Artikel-10 Perlembagaan Malaysia.

Daripada

Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)

Tarikh: 16 October 2009 (Jumaat)

学运严厉谴责马大学生事务处基于“邀请外人出席活动”理由检控8名马大学生

马来西亚青年与学生民主运动(学运)谴责马大学生事务处再次传召六名马大华文学会辩论组组委以及两名马大回教学生成员出席下个星期二的听证会,并修改这八名学生的控状为“非马大学会人士参与活动”的举动。

在这次事件中,我们看到了大专生再次成为大专法令的受害者。学运强调,修改前和修改后的大专法令换汤不换药,废除大专法令,归还学生自主权,才能真正体现校园民主。我们谴责马大校方不专业的处事方法,因为大专法令的公信力备受质疑,不应该以此作为学生行为的评鉴。虽然马大校方修改了这八名学生的控状,可是我们主张撤销控状,因为“邀请外人出席活动”并非合理的控诉,这只会凸显校方的荒谬之处。

学运认为校方以提控这八名大学生为策略,企图转移外界对反对电子投票课题的视线。反对电子投票由全国大专生团结阵线(SMM)发起,目的在于要求一个干净和公平的校园选举。这次八名学生被传召适逢各大校园都对电子票投票持反对声浪的期间,马大更是其中即将推行电子投票的大学之一,让我们有理由相信校方企图淡化反对电子投票的诉求,图让事情不了了之。我们呼吁各界不要掉入校方的陷阱,我们谴责大专法令不合理地存在校园。大专法令已经剥夺了学生的自由,我们不要再让电子投票也扼杀校园民主。

本次检控八名学生的事件在短短的期限内得到了各界关注,校方却选择忽视来自公民社会要求撤销这八名学生控状的诉求,并让听证会展延到下个星期二。学运再次强调,马大校方的这种打压手法,不但有违大学应有的校园民主和学生自治精神,更与其刚挤进泰晤士全球200最佳大学排行榜产生极大的冲突。

此外,学运呼吁媒体在报导此项课题的时候,勿把焦点放在校方对付华裔组织上面,因为出席听证会的除了六名辩论组组委外,还包括了前马大回教学生协会主席莫哈末哈菲祖丁(Muhammad Haafizuddin Abirerah)以及与他一起被控的会员大会筹委会总监阿布乌拜达阿米尔(Abu Ubaidah Amir Ab Malek)。媒体人士更应该关注的是学生基本权利的问题,我们认为作为一个学生团体,马大华文学会辩论组以及回教学生学会拥有绝对的办活动自主权。

学运再次呼吁,马大学生事务处应马上取消对八名学生的控诉,以归还学生原本的自主权。

马大辩论风波 70学生戴口罩抗议打压自由

8名马来亚大学学生因为邀请政治人物参与校内活动,招致学生事务局传召出席听证会对付,结果今日获得大约70名学生和公众人士今早戴着口罩,在校园内举行集会声援。

结果,校方突然也在没有给予任何理由的情况下,临时口头告知展延今早的听证会,导致这8名学生被迫白跑一趟。

保安只是在旁监视未阻止

大约50名来自马大学生代表理事会、马大回教学生会、马大华文学会的学生,还有约20名公众人士,今早10点开始陆续聚集在学生活动中心广场,部分出席者更是戴着口罩和创意纸牌,以声援受到传召的学生,以及抗议校方打压自由。

除了高喊口号,他们也举起两幅布条,分别写着“政治人物当评判,何错之有?”、“排名重回两百大,学生自由被践踏”、“救救学生”,以及“停止打压学生”口号。

NONE行动党沙登国会议员张念群、马华前青年讲师团团长胡渐彪、雪兰莪社区自强协会(Empower)代表王泽钦和全国大专生团结阵线沙兹尼慕尼尔(Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin)也到场声援(右图)。

尽管学生集会引起校方的注意,并有两三名保安官员到场向学生领袖了解情况和监视,不过他们并未进行干预。

由官员口头转告会议展延

NONE8名受传召的学生包括2名马大回教学生会成员,以及6名马大华文学会成员,也陆续进入学生事务局办公室,准备面对听证会(左图)。

不过,他们都没有见到负责主持听证会的学生纪律委员会成员,只被学生事务局官员口头转告,听证会已经被展延。

尽管他们再三追问,不过有关官员都拒绝披露展延的理由,只是要求学生回去等候公函,通知新的听证会日期。

邀朝野领袖出席活动惹祸

这8名学生都是遭校方援引邀请外人参与活动的罪名来对付。其中,6名马大华文学会成员是因为在今年9月8日辩论表演赛中,邀请行动党高级行政议员兼士布爹国会议员郭素沁、马华中王乃志,以及988电台主持人兼时事评论员许国伟担任点评嘉宾而受到秋后算账。

他们包括马大华文学会主席苏仪芳、辩论组组长陈劲晖、组员杨晓菁、许明泽、黄欣盈和曾威德。两名律师萧俊仁和叶纹豪也陪同他们出席,唯却被校方阻止陪同入内。

至于另外2名马大回教学生会成员则是被指在今年3月14日马大回教学生会会员大会中,邀请雪州州务大臣政治秘书兼斯里斯蒂亚州议员聂纳兹米开幕。虽然遭到校方及保安人员强力组织,唯聂纳兹最终成功乘踏一名学生的摩多车,以“偷渡”的方式最终进入马大校园。聂纳兹已经致函高教部长抗议校方的强硬举动。

NONE他们分别是前任主席莫哈末哈菲祖丁(Muhammad Haafizuddin Abirerah)和会员大会筹委会总监阿布乌拜达阿米尔(Abu Ubaidah Amir Ab Malek)(右图)。

其中一人从槟城特地回来

哈菲祖丁在离开学生事务局办公室后,对学生事务局突然展延听证会的决定表示惊讶,也不满校方没有事先作出通知。

“我感觉本身好像被玩弄,因为我是从家乡槟城特地赶回来出席听证会,不料他们却忽然展延。我已经修读完所有学科,只是还没有毕业。”

针对校方的纪律行动,他不排除背后是有政治因素。他也辩解说,他们邀请来自公正党的聂纳兹米出席活动并非旨在破坏马大名誉或有任何不良意图,反而是希望通过这名年轻议员来激励学生,后者在演讲中也没有触及政治问题。

“他是最年轻的州议员,才26岁。不管是来自哪一个政党,只要有任何议员比他年轻,我们都愿意邀请出席。不过,由于刚好他是来自雪州政府,所以我才会被控告。”

曾经尝试通知校方却不果

陈劲晖则表示,当他们6人进入学生事务局办公室后,就被一名官员传召进行“非正式的访谈”,并通知展延的消息。

尽管他们已经准备好所有文件来解释事件的来龙去脉,以及反驳有关罪名不成立,但是有关官员也不愿接受,只是要求他们等校方再来信通知。

陈劲晖也辩称,虽然活动早已经在两个月获得校方的批准,但是他们只能到活动的一个星期前,才正式敲定好点评嘉宾。他们曾尝试通知学生事务局官员,但是后者却不再办公室内。

“在活动当天,官员曾经联络过我本人,他说下一次活动不能有政治色彩,当时我们就以为是口头同意,因为他也没有要求取消。”

他也披露,学生事务局官员曾在活动后的周五召见其中3名筹委,他们当时就解释有关辩论表演赛的辩题纯粹是根据时下最热门的课题,而他们的立场是中立的,并且邀请来自朝野双方和媒体的人士参与,没有任何隐议程。

这些学生当时以为事件已经了结,不料随后又受到校方的传召。

原文摘自:http://malaysiakini.com/news/114827

TOP 200 WORLD UNIVERSITIES

2006 RANK NAME COUNTRY PEER REVIEW SCORE EMPLOYER REVIEW SCORE STAFF/STUDENT SCORE CITATIONS/STAFF SCORE INTERNATIONAL STAFF SCORE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SCORE OVERAL SCORE
1 1 Harvard University US 100 100 98 100 85 78 100.0
2 3 University of Cambridge UK 100 100 100 89 98 96 99.6
3 2 Yale University US 100 99 100 94 85 77 99.1
4 7 University College London UK 98 99 100 90 96 99 99.0
5= 6 Imperial College London UK 100 100 100 80 98 100 97.8
5= 4 University of Oxford UK 100 100 100 80 96 97 97.8
7 8 University of Chicago US 100 99 97 88 77 83 96.8
8 12 Princeton University US 100 96 82 100 89 81 96.6
9 9 Massachusetts Institute of Technology US 100 100 89 100 31 95 96.1
10 5 California Institute of Technology US 99 72 87 100 100 89 95.9
11 10 Columbia University US 100 99 97 92 28 89 95.6
12 11 University of Pennsylvania US 96 99 85 98 82 60 94.2
13 13= Johns Hopkins University US 98 79 100 99 28 71 94.1
14 13= Duke University US 95 97 100 93 29 62 92.9
15 15 Cornell University US 100 99 85 94 28 73 92.5
16 17 Stanford University US 100 100 71 100 25 96 92.2
17 16 Australian National University Australia 100 91 75 74 99 92 90.5
18 20 McGill University Canada 100 97 92 61 67 95 90.4
19 18 University of Michigan US 99 99 85 81 57 52 89.9
20= 23 University of Edinburgh UK 97 99 84 65 93 86 89.3
20= 24 ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) Switzerland 97 80 55 99 100 94 89.3
22 19 University of Tokyo Japan 100 97 98 70 28 42 88.9
23 22 King’s College London UK 91 98 90 67 92 88 88.4
24 26 University of Hong Kong Hong Kong 96 89 87 56 100 95 87.5
25 25 Kyoto University Japan 100 93 81 85 32 26 87.1
26 29 University of Manchester UK 94 100 79 58 90 87 85.7
27 21 Carnegie Mellon University US 94 93 56 88 62 96 85.6
28 28 Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris France 94 87 100 53 76 61 85.4
29 41 University of Toronto Canada 100 96 63 74 82 51 85.3
30 30= National University of Singapore Singapore 100 96 40 75 100 100 84.3
31 27 Brown University US 88 85 67 97 53 55 83.9
32= 30= University of California, Los Angeles US 100 98 46 100 21 33 83.5
32= 33 Northwestern University US 86 97 78 79 28 100 83.5
34 32 University of Bristol UK 83 99 84 69 85 77 83.4
35 39 Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong 89 86 84 54 100 99 83.3
36= 34= Ecole Polytechnique France 76 99 100 65 63 95 83.1
36= 38 University of Melbourne Australia 100 100 57 61 59 97 83.1
36= 37 University of Sydney Australia 99 97 58 53 99 95 83.1
39 36 University of California, Berkeley US 100 100 25 100 86 34 82.7
40 34= University of British Columbia Canada 100 93 51 77 34 60 81.2
41 43 University of Queensland Australia 94 95 47 67 99 82 80.7
42 50= Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Switzerland 67 70 92 84 100 100 80.6
43= 44 Osaka University Japan 92 73 90 68 24 33 80.1
43= 49 Trinity College Dublin Ireland 88 96 72 49 98 83 80.1
45 47 Monash University Australia 98 99 56 42 95 96 80.0
46 42 Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong 87 77 77 55 97 79 79.6
47= 45 University of New South Wales Australia 96 99 39 62 82 93 79.0
47= 50= Seoul National University South Korea 99 69 92 47 29 33 79.0
49= 53 University of Amsterdam Netherlands 93 81 73 62 71 32 78.9
49= 56 Tsinghua University China 98 83 95 34 45 34 78.9
51 48 University of Copenhagen Denmark 84 67 100 48 71 73 78.8
52= 40 New York University US 94 94 75 53 26 52 78.4
52= 50= Peking University China 100 93 89 35 24 30 78.4
54 46 Boston University US 87 87 68 67 25 89 77.8
55= 78= Technical University of Munich Germany 73 90 92 58 56 74 76.3
55= 61 Tokyo Institute of Technology Japan 81 79 72 80 31 49 76.3
57 57 Heidelberg University Germany 90 47 77 58 58 80 76.2
58 69 University of Warwick UK 86 100 63 39 85 97 75.7
59 74 University of Alberta Canada 88 71 65 52 91 66 75.4
60 64 Leiden University Netherlands 89 58 35 97 74 40 75.3
61= 65 University of Auckland New Zealand 95 96 36 45 93 99 74.7
61= 55 University of Wisconsin-Madison US 90 76 44 87 29 36 74.7
63= 81= Aarhus University Denmark 83 51 65 75 69 66 74.5
63= 71 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign US 92 66 23 93 72 49 74.5
65 72 Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Belgium 94 80 35 73 55 55 74.2
66 75 University of Birmingham UK 78 93 57 63 83 76 73.9
67= 66 London School of Economics UK 89 100 53 29 100 100 73.7
67= 88 Lund University Sweden 84 59 55 78 57 62 73.7
69 95 Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology South Korea 84 52 77 65 47 31 72.6
70= 67 Utrecht University Netherlands 87 65 61 71 43 24 72.4
70= 81= University of York UK 63 95 75 61 95 83 72.4
72 68 University of Geneva Switzerland 68 36 54 96 97 100 72.3
73= 77 Nanyang Technological University Singapore 86 84 44 44 100 100 72.0
73= 60 Washington University in St Louis US 57 50 95 98 30 53 72.0
75 63 Uppsala University Sweden 89 51 42 80 68 40 71.9
76= 58 University of California, San Diego US 98 51 17 100 22 27 71.5
76= 70 University of Texas at Austin US 93 92 29 65 55 41 71.5
78 102= University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill US 72 78 72 82 23 26 71.3
79 73 University of Glasgow UK 73 83 67 64 58 60 71.2
80 59 University of Washington US 83 46 45 99 25 36 71.1
81 106= University of Adelaide Australia 78 87 38 62 87 96 70.8
82 76 University of Sheffield UK 65 97 70 59 81 76 70.6
83 78= Delft University of Technology Netherlands 78 88 57 49 84 73 70.4
84 83= University of Western Australia Australia 72 81 50 63 99 87 70.2
85 54 Dartmouth College US 58 93 60 100 34 52 70.1
86 83= Georgia Institute of Technology US 76 81 23 99 36 77 70.0
87= 99= Purdue University US 83 83 38 58 94 60 69.8
87= 83= University of St Andrews UK 57 92 74 61 91 99 69.8
89 108 University College Dublin Ireland 72 94 67 37 95 90 69.7
90 62 Emory University US 51 68 94 90 41 45 69.6
91 86 University of Nottingham UK 70 99 61 48 84 86 69.4
92= 120 Nagoya University Japan 67 77 89 61 28 34 69.2
92= 106= University of Zurich Switzerland 79 37 22 98 99 71 69.2
94 137= Free University of Berlin Germany 87 31 28 92 49 63 69.0
95= 99= University of Southampton UK 64 87 66 59 86 76 68.9
95= 124= National Taiwan University Taiwan 93 82 39 57 29 25 68.9
97 112 Tohoku University Japan 67 58 98 58 36 32 68.6
98 93= Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich Germany 86 45 34 76 53 66 68.4
99 104 University of Leeds UK 73 99 57 48 75 62 68.3
100 78= Rice University US 56 44 86 87 38 67 68.1
101 177= University of Oslo Norway 77 62 85 40 32 58 67.7
102 93= Hebrew University of Jerusalem Israel 87 24 43 77 61 32 67.3
103= 122= Durham University UK 62 99 56 60 91 69 67.2
103= 113 Fudan University China 90 84 44 44 29 47 67.2
105 87 University of Minnesota US 74 51 26 99 84 38 67.1
106 98 University of California, Santa Barbara US 86 42 21 97 37 21 66.6
107 91= Université de Montréal Canada 81 29 36 71 82 74 66.2
108= 131 University of Basel Switzerland 63 30 99 37 99 90 66.1
108= 89 University of California, Davis US 76 47 43 91 26 25 66.1
108= 126 Erasmus University Rotterdam Netherlands 57 98 48 82 57 65 66.1
108= 91= University of Helsinki Finland 85 42 53 67 29 21 66.1
112 102= University of Southern California US 62 66 49 79 66 88 66.0
113 129 University of Waterloo Canada 82 78 13 78 71 41 65.8
114= 97 University of Pittsburgh US 55 30 93 76 73 35 65.6
114= 114 Tel Aviv University Israel 83 38 24 98 35 20 65.6
116 111 Maastricht University Netherlands 48 73 76 70 66 100 65.3
117 149 Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie Paris VI France 76 22 85 43 27 88 65.0
118 117= Queen’s University Canada 71 88 51 55 68 34 64.7
119 90 Case Western Reserve University US 52 38 88 86 20 52 64.6
120= 128 Eindhoven University of Technology Netherlands 55 59 100 42 99 39 64.4
120= 105 Pennsylvania State University US 73 69 29 89 38 34 64.4
122= 147= Freiburg University Germany 67 26 91 44 51 76 64.0
122= 122= University of Maryland, College Park US 67 34 56 83 55 38 64.0
124 147= City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong 66 58 63 48 100 60 63.9
125 124= University of Otago New Zealand 68 77 39 52 100 83 63.8
126= 116 Université Catholique de Louvain Belgium 81 53 17 77 47 72 63.7
126= 140 Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon France 42 57 100 71 55 60 63.7
128 96 University of Virginia US 57 91 60 77 22 36 63.5
129= 153 University of Aberdeen UK 54 69 67 57 90 87 63.4
129= 110 Georgetown University US 65 90 65 50 24 51 63.4
129= 121 Ohio State University US 69 77 40 64 69 46 63.4
132= 109 Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Israel 80 55 37 75 18 17 63.0
132= 115 University of Vienna Austria 86 60 13 58 65 77 63.0
134 188= Pohang University of Science and Technology South Korea 53 31 72 97 50 19 62.9
135 133= Cardiff University UK 59 84 63 49 70 72 62.8
136 136 University of Ghent Belgium 68 37 89 43 49 34 62.6
137 133= University of Liverpool UK 52 76 73 54 78 64 62.4
138= 166= Chulalongkorn University Thailand 89 80 53 23 28 14 62.3
138= 144= University of Groningen Netherlands 61 62 63 61 62 49 62.3
140 101 Vanderbilt University US 43 74 100 58 54 36 62.2
141 119 University of Rochester US 48 20 100 64 61 63 61.8
142 214 Keio University Japan 69 88 79 28 24 18 61.6
143 117= McMaster University Canada 75 37 18 98 27 31 60.9
144= 152 University of Bath UK 52 98 48 50 89 94 60.7
144= 227 University of Bergen Norway 59 53 62 58 60 64 60.7
146= 179 University of Cape Town South Africa 64 79 27 62 77 86 60.6
146= 139 Humboldt University of Berlin Germany 83 36 36 51 45 59 60.6
148 180= Waseda University Japan 83 91 43 23 41 30 60.5
149= 170= University of Calgary Canada 68 60 9 100 47 31 60.4
149= 155= Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen Germany 65 27 69 58 53 50 60.4
151= 159 University of Western Ontario Canada 65 67 17 91 70 27 60.3
151= 203 Yonsei University South Korea 76 43 78 30 22 31 60.3
153 144= Shanghai Jiao Tong University China 72 74 62 40 32 16 60.2
154 141 University of Science and Technology of China China 74 61 50 59 17 13 60.1
155= 158 Kyushu University Japan 59 59 71 63 19 34 60.0
155= 183= Lomonosov Moscow State University Russia 78 70 36 37 76 44 60.0
155= 142 Wageningen University Netherlands 38 31 87 82 39 97 60.0
158 162= Newcastle University UK 43 88 63 57 81 86 59.6
159 133= Technical University of Denmark Denmark 39 34 99 62 93 47 59.5
160 157 Tufts University US 35 54 70 88 100 43 59.4
161 132 University of California, Irvine US 71 22 22 99 26 35 59.0
162 170= Lancaster University UK 55 73 59 41 85 81 58.9
163 174= Indian Institute of Technology Bombay India 76 79 43 45 16 13 58.6
164 160 Queen Mary, University of London UK 55 62 75 26 92 90 58.5
165 155= VU University Amsterdam Netherlands 65 59 67 43 39 28 58.3
166= 146 University of Arizona US 64 44 25 94 27 32 58.0
166= 130 University of Sussex UK 54 44 49 62 87 80 58.0
168= 161 University of Lausanne Switzerland 46 43 57 67 88 80 57.4
168= 143 Nanjing University China 76 59 41 42 50 17 57.4
168= 224 Saint-Petersburg State University Russia 63 60 95 21 16 20 57.4
171= 186= University of Barcelona Spain 77 53 17 66 24 37 57.2
171= 174= Hokkaido University Japan 51 60 72 64 19 25 57.2
173 127 Stony Brook University US 54 33 50 68 61 87 57.1
174= 192= University of Bologna Italy 82 62 34 34 27 29 56.9
174= 173 KTH, Royal Institute of Technology Sweden 58 45 49 46 83 98 56.9
174= 216 University of Tsukuba Japan 59 46 77 45 23 36 56.9
177= 195 University of Antwerp Belgium 47 36 99 37 59 56 56.7
177= 200= University of Athens Greece 46 44 65 76 0 91 56.7
179 137= Texas A&M University US 66 64 24 72 32 35 56.6
180 230 Universiti Malaya Malaysia 60 68 68 21 72 65 56.5
181 154 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi India 68 81 46 48 15 13 56.4
182 216 Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen Germany 49 88 75 30 50 66 56.3
183 151 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey US 69 32 43 57 61 28 56.2
184 207 University of Karlsruhe Germany 47 84 73 33 49 81 56.1
185 258 University of Gothenburg Sweden 49 26 63 62 65 86 55.8
186= 180= University of Colorado at Boulder US 54 20 53 87 36 20 55.6
186= 166= University of Göttingen Germany 64 21 63 48 40 49 55.6
188 186= University of Canterbury New Zealand 57 89 27 39 99 82 55.2
189 182 Macquarie University Australia 61 77 20 43 86 100 54.9
190 150 National Autonomous University of Mexico Mexico 68 81 57 21 35 15 54.8
191= 183= Université Libre de Bruxelles Belgium 60 56 22 59 57 96 54.7
191= 194 University of Reading UK 45 71 52 50 80 81 54.7
193= 192= University of Bern Switzerland 40 22 58 83 92 44 54.5
193= 170= Indiana University Bloomington US 61 69 28 58 46 48 54.5
195 224 Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong 57 49 30 54 100 75 54.4
196= 177= University of Leicester UK 38 48 55 67 72 94 53.9
196= 164 Simon Fraser University Canada 67 49 19 53 88 49 53.9
198 162= Chalmers University of Technology Sweden 58 37 48 56 44 57 53.8
199 168 University of Notre Dame US 50 74 44 67 25 31 53.6
200 200= University of Twente Netherlands 47 51 51 53 83 66 53.5

Sample Urgent Appeal Letter

To:

Y. Bhg. Professor Datuk Dr. Ghauth Jasmon

Vice-Chancellor
University of Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel. No.: 03-7967 3213 / 3510 / 03-7956 8400
Fax No.: 03-7955 2975
Email: vc@um.edu.my / ghauth@gmail.com

Withdraw Disciplinary Charge on UM Students Immediately

We/I, ______________________ from ______________________, oppose the action of UM authority for charging six students under Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) with the reason that inviting “outsiders” to judge a Chinese language debate competition.

2. We/I strongly feel that the disciplinary charge should be withdrawn because:

a) The six students have done nothing wrong. They were only organizing a debate competition that provides a platform for intellectual discussion on current national issues.

b) Student’s organizations should enjoy autonomy in the campus to organize activities. The university authority should respect the autonomy of students and stop intimidates the university students for any activities.

c) The charges are unreasonable and politically motivated. The university authority intends to suppress student activities and spreading white terror in the campus. This action is against student’s freedom of expression.

3. By inviting ‘outsiders’ to activities in UM does not poses any threat to the university. In the past, many ministers, politicians and well-known personalities are invited to attend various events organized by university students. What is the ground to charge the six UM students for organizing debate competition as compared to the events mention above.

4. Activities that allow students to participate in intellectual discussion on the country’s current development should be encouraged. Moreover, these types of activities provide a good platform to encourage students to think critically on the current national issues, especially after the 308 political tsunami. The university authority should not prevent students from organizing such activities. The charging of the six students is a retrogression of democracy in UM.

4.  We/I urge that UM authority:

a) to withdraw disciplinary charge from the six students immediately and unconditionally.

b) to respect the student autonomy and stop the intimidates on university students.

c) to preserve the freedom of expression of the students as stated in Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 10 of Federal Constitution in Malaysia, and uphold campus democracy.

Yours faithfully,

______________

(                           )

CC:

Y.B. DATO’ SERI MOHAMED KHALED BIN NORDIN

Menteri Pengajian Tinggi,
Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi,
Aras 7, Blok E3, Parcel E,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62505 PUTRAJAYA.

Tel       : +603-8883 5010

Faks   : +603-8889 1952

Email  : menteri@mohe.gov.my

Urgent Appeal on UM Students

URGENT APPEAL
8 October 2009

To all,

Withdraw Disciplinary Charge on Six UM Students Immediately

Saw Yee Fung and five university students from University Malaya (UM) have been charged by university authority under Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) with the reason that inviting “outsiders” to judge a Chinese language debate competition on politics in the country. Those judges were Teresa Kok (Seputeh MP), Wong Nai Chee (MCA central committee member) and political commentator, Koh Kok Wee. They may be expelled, suspended or fined if found guilty.

They were asked to attend an inquiry on 12/10/2009 (Monday), 11.30am to determine if action is to be taken against them for violation of rules and regulations of the university.

We strongly feel that the UUCA charge should be withdrawn because:
a) The six students have done nothing wrong. They were only organizing a debate competition that provides a platform for intellectual discussion on current national issues.
b) Student’s organizations should enjoy autonomy in the campus to organize activities. The university authority should respect the autonomy of students and stop intimidates the university students for any activities.
c) The charges are unreasonable and politically motivated. The university authority intends to suppress student activities and spreading white terror in the campus. This action is against student’s freedom of expression.

Background of the incident:

On 8th September 2009, debate team under University Malaya Chinese Language Society has organized a debate competition on politics in the country. They have invited a few politicians to debate on the recent political development in Malaysia. Those politicians include Victor Gu and Teo Nie Ching. The organizer also invited Teresa Kok (Seputeh MP), Wong Nai Chee (MCA central committee member) and political commentator, Koh Kok Wee to be the judges for the debate competition.

Before the debate competition start, the organizer has been given warning by the Students Affairs Department through telephone. The reason given is that debate is politically oriented. However, the debate competition managed to carry on.

On 7th October 2009, five of the university students that involved in organizing the debate competition and the president of University Malaya Chinese Language Society, Saw Yee Fung were given summon letter. They were asked to attend an inquiry on 12/10/2009 (Monday), 11.30am to determine if action is to be taken against them for violation of rules and regulations of the university.

Violation of student freedom and autonomy

By charging the six students under UUCA is a form of suppression on university student autonomy. University students should be granted the freedom to organize activities that promotes intellectual discussion and critical thinking. The role of university is to provide environment that is conducive for activities to take place. In fact, the university should encourage more activities like this. This will enable more students to understand and participate in the recent national development.

It is also the freedom of university students to choose which guests to invite for an activity. Therefore, when the six students are charged for inviting “outsiders” to judge a Chinese language debate competition, it clearly violated the student autonomy. The ground given by the university authority does not stand because over the years, UM have invited many ministers, politicians and well-known personalities to attend events at UM. This clearly showed that there is double standard in this case.

Moreover, the university authority intends to suppress students with hidden agenda. All the suppressions are politically motivated. This is because after the debate competition has ended for 1 month, the university authority only takes action against the 6 university students. Therefore, we have the reason to believe that the suppression is getting worse especially near to campus election. The purpose of this action is to spread white terror to the students and restrict the freedom enjoyed by the university students.

Demands
Hence, DEMA calls upon authority of UM to withdraw any disciplinary charge from them immediately. DEMA also urges the authority of UM to respect the students autonomy.

What Can You Do?
1. Fax the sample letter below to UM authority immediately.

UM Vice Chancellor’s Office:
No. Fax: 03-7955 2975
Email: pej_nc@um.edu.my

2. Call UM authority to ask about the case and protest towards the UUCA charge on UM students.

UM Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Student Affairs & Alumni)
Associate Professor Datuk Dr. Azarae Hj. Idris
Tel: 03-7967 3201

Released by,
Lim Wei Sin
Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
Secretary of National Affairs
016-2802251
bushy.lim@gmail.com

Sample Letter

Please state your protest by sending a letter to the Vice Chancellor of University Malaya (UM).

To:
Y. Bhg. Professor Datuk Dr. Ghauth Jasmon
Vice-Chancellor
University of Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel. No.: 03-7967 3213 / 3510 / 03-7956 8400
Fax No.: 03-7955 2975
Email: vc@um.edu.my / ghauth@gmail.com

Withdraw Disciplinary Charge on UM Students Immediately

We/I, ______________________ from ______________________, oppose the action of UM authority for charging six students under Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) with the reason that inviting “outsiders” to judge a Chinese language debate competition.

2. We/I strongly feel that the disciplinary charge should be withdrawn because:
a) The six students have done nothing wrong. They were only organizing a debate competition that provides a platform for intellectual discussion on current national issues.
b) Student’s organizations should enjoy autonomy in the campus to organize activities. The university authority should respect the autonomy of students and stop intimidates the university students for any activities.
c) The charges are unreasonable and politically motivated. The university authority intends to suppress student activities and spreading white terror in the campus. This action is against student’s freedom of expression.

3. By inviting ‘outsiders’ to activities in UM does not poses any threat to the university. In the past, many ministers, politicians and well-known personalities are invited to attend various events organized by university students. What is the ground to charge the six UM students for organizing debate competition as compared to the events mention above.

4. Activities that allow students to participate in intellectual discussion on the country’s current development should be encouraged. Moreover, these types of activities provide a good platform to encourage students to think critically on the current national issues, especially after the 308 political tsunami. The university authority should not prevent students from organizing such activities. The charging of the six students is a retrogression of democracy in UM.

4. We/I urge that UM authority:
a) to withdraw disciplinary charge from the six students immediately and unconditionally.
b) to respect the student autonomy and stop the intimidates on university students.
c) to preserve the freedom of expression of the students as stated in Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 10 of Federal Constitution in Malaysia, and uphold campus democracy.

Yours faithfully,

______________
( )

CC:
Y.B. DATO’ SERI MOHAMED KHALED BIN NORDIN
Menteri Pengajian Tinggi,
Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi,
Aras 7, Blok E3, Parcel E,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62505 PUTRAJAYA.
Tel : +603-8883 5010
Faks : +603-8889 1952
Email : menteri@mohe.gov.my