SHAH ALAM, Mar 17 – Political Secretary to the Dato’ Menteri Besar, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad stated his disappointment on an incident last Saturday, where he was prevented from officiating the Universiti Malaya Association Of Islamic Graduates General Meeting (PMIUM).

Nik Nazmi who is also State Assemblyman (Adun) for Seri Setia said he had received an invitation the previous day to officiate the meeting.

However on the day itself, he received a phonecall and SMS from someone claiming to be a leader of the association, informing him that the invitation was being revoked due to pressure from the upper management.

Nik Nazmi said after that he received a phonecall from a student representative asking where he was whereby he informed the caller that his invitation had been revoked.

However, the student representative confirmed that no one from the association had made the earlier call.

Nik Nazmi also received an SMS from the same earlier caller claiming that the Student Affairs Office would continue to pressure the students’ association if he attended the function.

The meeting went well despite his being ’smuggled’ into the university on a student motorcycle and being informed by UM that he would not be allowed to give a speech.

“Alhamdulillah, my speech went well without any disturbances (whereby) I stressed on how important it is for muslim students to show a good example to our multiracial society, and how they should face changes, be the people’s representatives and not blindly allow themselves to be followers of any political party, be it UMNO, Pas or Keadilan,” he said  adding that several suspiscious-looking people had also been seen recording his speech.

Nik Nazmi said he had previously been invited to attend several student programmes without any incident. 

Although he felt that the UM incident was nothing new for a Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leader, Nik Nazmi said students should not be exposed to unprofessional doings.

“Why should students be threatened in such a manner in carrying out their activities? What values are we trying to teach our students,” he asked.

Nik Nazmi said he had written to the Minister of Higher Education Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin for an explanation, with a copy given to UM.

He said he was prepared to meet the minister or UM to ensure such an incident did not recur. 

Nik Nazmi said it was time for students to be treated like adults and not mindless children. 

He said, prior to the amendments on the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) last year, everyone was allowed to enter campuses to discuss student-related issues.

“This incident will only impede change,” he said.

He said universities as institutions of higher learning should uphold values such as independence, critical thinking and  courtesy.

Meanwhile, the former PMIUM President who also attended the media conference said that the association was disappointed by the interference by university Student Affairs administrators.

“His speech was not even political in nature, as it only attempted to inject an intellectual spirit on the students,” he said.

Newly-elected president, Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin, said, the incident should not happened and he hoped it would not recur.

“If it does, it would not only be a bad impression on UM but would also give a negative impression towards other universities intellectually and academically,” he said.  

He added, the threats to ban the association was just because they had invited an outsider to officiate the meeting which he felt were contrary to democratic values.  – NOOR ALLIA KASSIM