Take it up with VC, Maszlee tells UM students unhappy over speech at Malay forum

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 8 Oct 2019 12:39PM · 4 Comments

Education Minister Maszlee Malik has urged Universiti Malaya students to meet with their vice-chancellor to air their grievances over alleged racist remarks. – The Malaysian Insight pic, October 8, 2019.

EDUCATION Minister Maszlee Malik has urged Universiti Malaya (UM) students to meet with their vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim to voice their displeasure over his alleged racist remarks at Sunday’s Malay Dignity Congress.

He said the ministry will not take any action against Yap Wen Qing, UM student union vice-president, who issued a statement yesterday demanding Rahim’s resignation.

“We’re not in the Barisan Nasional era. That is Yap’s opinion, and my suggestion is to meet the vice-chancellor himself and convey their unhappiness directly,” Maszlee told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

“I believe the vice-chancellor is open enough to hear the views of students, and I urge the students to meet him.”

Rahim had given a speech at the Malay Dignity Congress in Shah Alam, which Yap alleged had racist elements.

He had reportedly said the transition of federal power in general election last year had reduced Malay dominance in politics and that Malay rights had been challenged.

Yap had said the speech was not the only issue, adding that Rahim had failed to resolve financial and welfare problems faced by UM students, as well as unable to unite the students.

“The Student Affairs Department, which he leads, forced all residential colleges to send their Malay students to the congress,” Yap said.

“We ask all political leaders who made racist remarks during the Malay Dignity Congress to apologise to all Malaysians. We also urge the vice-chancellor of UM to resign for his racist behaviour and his failure in running the campus.”

UM is one of four public universities that had been involved in organising the event. The others were Universiti Teknologi Mara, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Meanwhile, an online petition has been started, calling for the resignation of the vice-chancellors of the four universities involved in the congress. – October 8, 2019.

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Comments

  • The racist VC was appointed by the government. He was not elected by the students. So how can the education minister now tell the students to go take it up with the VC? It wasnt them that put him there in the first place. Maszlee, dont walk away and wash your hands off this matter. As a education minister you should be more responsible. You fully support what the VC said thats why you are not willing to take action against him.

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • One of the biggest failure of PH Government is not having a competent Minister of Education.

    Posted 4 years ago by Sidney Karan · Reply

  • GET LOST IN GE15 useless with NO DIGNITY Education so called Minister. Wasting tax payer Hard earn Money.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • Wow to make the numbers they forced all Malay students to attend their racist bash-a-thon.

    Posted 4 years ago by Kinetica Cho · Reply