Politicians can attend university without giving up post - The Star

March 17, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR: A politician can register as a student of a university without having to let go his or her political post or career, according to the Educational Institutions (Discipline) (Amendment) Bill 2010 which was tabled in Parliament.

This provision is contained in Article 6 of the Bill tabled by Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong in the Dewan Rakyat for the first reading.

The Bill which contains 14 Articles, is aimed at, among others, amending the definitions and sections in the Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976 (Act 174).

For example, Article 6 replaces Section 10 of Act 174 which allows the students and student bodies the freedom of association, subject to retrictions with regard to political parties, associations which go against the law, and bodies or groups of people identified by the Minister as unsuitable in the interest of the well-being of the students or student body.

However, according to the Bill, the Chief Executive can, upon application by a student, exempt him from the restrictions.

Sub-section (6) under this Article seeks to expand the scope of students' freedom of expression and speech on academic matters, while Sub-section (7) seeks to abolish criminal penalty and be replaced with disciplinary action.

The proposed abolishment is in line with the spirit of the existing law governing higher education.

Article 5 in the Bill seeks to replace Section 9 in Act 174, to allow the Students' Representative Council, student societies or groups of an institution the right to make representation in writing before any action to suspend or disband is made against them.

It also provides the right for the students or student body to appeal to the Minister. - Bernama

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Berita di atas sudah menggembirakan beberapa orang pelajar OUM Perak yang merupakan ADUN dan Ketua-ketua Bahagaian dan Cawangan beberapa parti politik. Antara ADUN Perak yang tekah bergraduat dari OUM Perak termasuk Dato' Saarani, Dato' Hasbullah dan Sdra Salleh (Cikgu Cop).

YB yang masih belajar di OUM Perak termasuk Dato' Shamsuddin, Dato' Tarmizi dan Sivakumar. Seorang lagi bekas YB yang juga Timbalan Ketua Bahagia Gopeng iaitu Sdra Alex Chan masih lagi belajar di OUM Perak.