Association seeks judicial review of University Concert Guideline

KUCHING: The University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) has submitted a formal enquiry letter to the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) to call for a judicial review process concerning the ‘University Concert Guideline’.

Umany president Ten Kang Yeaw said they ‘strongly protest the University Concert Guideline’ not only to defend the autonomy of university students, but also to resist conservative trends on campuses and throughout Malaysia.

“This enquiry letter marks the beginning of the judicial review process, and Umany is determined to challenge this Guideline and defend campus diversity,” he said in a statement yesterday.

According to Ten, a crowdfunding campaign initiated by Umany for the judicial review has raised RM15,000.

Suara Siswa Universiti Malaya secretary-general Abqari Annuar outlined three main reasons for their opposition to the ‘Universiti Concert Guideline’.

The reasons included severe encroachments on students’ basic human rights, such as freedom of attire, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech, he said.

“The Guideline strips university students of their autonomy and uses vague language, allowing the university management to interpret them arbitrarily.”

Universiti Malaya Students’ Union former president Ooi Guo Shen called upon the public to continue paying attention to this far-reaching issue. He stressed that diverse voices must not be silenced.

He also expressed hope for a positive response from the MoHE regarding the enquiry raised by Umany.

On Sept 1, MoHE announced in a statement that it would review its guidelines for entertainment activities including concerts at tertiary institutions.

“The guidelines are in place to protect the peace and safety of students and the rest of the campus community during events,” said the ministry.

“It is also a detailed guide for carrying out entertainment activities and programmes in the form of concerts, conducted by students on tertiary institutions’ premises.”

The ministry added that the review would be done by its Higher Education Department together with Universiti Malaya Cultural Council.

The MoHE’s proposed new guidelines are meant to regulate concerts held in public and private tertiary institutions, including the provision of separate seating for men, women and families.

The 16-page guide reportedly contained detailed regulations and information on the approval process for concerts held by tertiary institutions.