Local students are intellectually weak. Malaysiakini

Friday December 12, 2008
Backbencher: Local students are intellectually weak
At the Dewan Rakyat
Reports by LEE YUK PENG, ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN AND LOH FOON FONG

LOCAL university students are intellectually weak, not because they get involved in politics but, because they are too lazy to study, says a backbencher.

Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN — Pasir Salak) said the students did not read books but merely relied on notes from lecturers.

“They are lazy to do research and also can’t be bothered to read anything in English,” he said when debating the Universities and University Colleges Bill yesterday.

“This is because it is difficult. A headache for them to do so.”

Meanwhile, amendments to the University and University Colleges Act 1971 were passed after a lengthy debate, despite attempts by Opposition MPs to make their own amendments to the proposed Bill.

Tony Pua (DAP — Petaling Jaya Utara) had earlier submitted 10 proposed amendments to the Speaker.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the amendments would give students a wider form for expression of speech.

He said although they were not allowed to join political parties in universities, the Government was making the first progressive step by allowing students to be exposed to the activities of these organisations.

“The only organisation that they cannot join is the Al-Qaeda,” he said in winding-up the debate on the amendments at the committee stage.

Khaled said students would be exposed to the viewpoints and activities of non-governmental organisations and they would not need approval from education authorities.

Khaled said students would be allowed to organise activities with politicians and political parties on issues related to education.

He refuted the assertion by Pakatan Rakyat MPs that the Act itself was against freedom of expression as provisions in the amendments were in line with limits outlined under Article 10 (iii) of the Constitution.

Student leaders, however, rejected amendments to the Act.

Ridzuan Mohammad, 22, an Undergraduate Movement for Abolishing University and Colleges Act secretariat member said Tajuddin should retract his statement, adding that those who were lazy were only a minority.