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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 20. August 8 1977

News From Malaysia And Singapore

News From Malaysia And Singapore

Warning from V.C.

The University of Malaya Vice-Chancellor Ungku Aziz warned new students that they must either abide by the rules and regulations of the university or "pack up and go home".

"You should obey the orders of your leaders, lecturers and officers", he said.

He was addressing 2,580 new students at the opening of an orientation week during which students had to take an oath. He added: "If there are any of you who are not prepared to accept the conditions of this oath, do not sign it. It would be better for you to return home and find some other career".

Photo of Malaysian students taking an oath

Some of the new entrants to the University of Malaya taking the oath.

The Vice-Chancellor was obviously still haunted by the memory of the upsurges of the student movement which swept a number of major academic institutions in Malaysia in 1974-75.

How can we conceive such a statement if not for a deliberate motive to enforce a psychological pressure upon callow students? Such threats are reminiscent of the Japanese-occupied period when our parents were daily subjected to unscrupulous intimidations. Moreover, a statement of such nature happening to come out from the head of a University shows that the reign of terrorism over the country's academic life is no longer a disguised assault, It has become so entrenched and institutionalised that 'university autonomy' in Malaysia is virtually a foregone catchword, perhaps, useful only in beguiling the outside world.

The rules and regulations Ungku Aziz talked about are none other than those embodied in the Universities and University Colleges (Amendment) Act 1975, which was promulgated to subdue the students after the unrest in 1974-75.

Amongst the provisions, the UUCA 1975 in particular states that it is an offence for students or their organisations to even associate or have any dealing with any society, political party, trade union or any other orgainsation, body or group of persons whatsoever, even if they are lawfully established.

It is also an offence for students, and their organisations to say or do anything which may be "construed as expressing support, sympathy or opposition to any political party or trade union." It is therefore not far from reality to say that the precondition of becoming a student in a titulate college is the forfeiture of a basic democratic rights to be critical and speak out.

Ungku Aziz may not be happy or may have gone through a chain of sleepless nights during the events of past years. However, can the students be happy when psychological warfare was being assailed on them when they were just in a mood of pursuing an ambitious future?

Ref. New Straits Times: 31.5.77

45 Death Sentences

There are now 45 people in Malaysia who were given death sentences as compared to three in 1973 according to the director-general of prisons. A number of people were sentenced to death by the court under Section 57 of the Internal Security Act which carries a mandatory death sentence on on conviction of unlawful possession of firearms. There are now 234 firearm cases awaiting trials.

Recently, a complaint on the violation of law and justice by the Malaysian regime had been submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, highlighting the plight of one Mr Lee Wen Sang who was sentenced to death on the charge of possission of firearms under the Internal Security Act. A 13 years old schoolboy was also charged recently under the same notorious ISA.

The Essential (Security Cases) Regulations 1975 states that death sentence shall be passed even if the accused is juvenille.

Ref : RNS Vol. 3 No 12,

Malay Mail 6.6.1977,

New Straits Times 17.6.1977.

Army Shoots Three Dead

Sarawak: Three innocent persons were shot dead by the Malaysian army at Mile 16, Oga Road, Sib District, Sarawak. The Chief Minister of Sarawak said that the three persons were shot dead because "they failed to respond to challenges by Security Forces patrol". They were shot in their house by the army.

(Ref : Sarawak Tribune 31.5.77)