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Salient. Victoria University Students Newspaper. Volume 38 Number 8. 1975

Students Demonstrations and Their Demands

Students Demonstrations and Their Demands

Although newspapers and other mass media conveniently blacked out news of the protests, the news did reach the several universities. This almost spontaneously sparked off mass student demonstrations throughout the country.

  • 3-12-74: More than 8,000 students from all the institutions of higher learning held a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur to protest against inflation, poverty and corruption. On the same day, similar demonstrations were also held in Penang and Ipoh. The Malaysian Federal Reserve Units fired tear gas to disperse the students. 1169 students in K.L., 38 in Penang and 3 in lpoh were arrested and charged with 'unlawful assembly'!
The demonstrations erupted again the next day and continued for about a week. All of these were demonstrations of sympathy and support for the unden- page 10 iable social distress in Baling. Some of the students demands are:
1)Effective measures by the government to fight inflation.
2)Eradicate corruption (e.g. corruption of Selangor Chief Minister).
3)Reduce the allowances of MP's to its former level (a Bill was then passed to double the monthly allowances of MP's to $1,500).
4)More stringent controls over multinational corporations.
5)Stop making empty promises which have been unfulfilled for 17 years (e.g. Land reform).
6)Guarantee the availability of essential goods and services at reasonable prices.
7)Effective agricultural and other socio-economic reforms for the benefit of the majority of the people and not just a few capitalists.