Don’t punish students who criticise, says Zahid
Deputy Prime Minister at the 2016 Parliamentary Conference of Students dinner at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. With him are Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives president Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Rahman (fourth from right) and Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching (third from left). Pic by Aizuddin Saad KUALA LUMPUR: Students who voice their criticism in a constructive manner should not be subjected to disciplinary action, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday.
Instead, he said, such constructive criticism should be acknowledged and taken into consideration.
“I ask that the Higher Education Ministry, as well as other ministries, government bodies and departments, listen to criticisms and students’ voices,” he said.
“Do not take disciplinary action against them because they should not be shackled. On the contrary, they should be given guidance.”
However, Zahid said, students should be wary of the way they criticised the government.
“Criticisms should be constructive and not destructive. One can criticise and have opposing opinions, but it must be intellectual,” he said during the 2016 Parliamentary Conference of Students dinner at the Putra World Trade Centre here last night.
He announced an allocation of RM250,000 for the Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak).
Present were Mubarak president Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Rahman and Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching.