Screenshots

Not something new. Ranging from compulsory BTN camps to the omnipresent "Projek Kerajaan BN" signs on government construction projects, government funds are constantly in use as means of direct campaigning for voter support.

Either way, it happens in just about every other UK university, where the political societies would try to involve itself with the local Malaysian student associations, though I perceive less success with these student-runned bodies compared to the government affiliated MSD.

As another season of sending off overseas bound students begins, the BTN machine is again rolling ahead and more and more students are heading to places where aparrently it's safe for political societies to prosper in education insitutions (*gasp!*). What's the justification to have the act in place in Malaysia again?

Can the MPP be really construed as the voice of every student? Does anyone have the voter turnout statistics, or any other number to hold up or kill the DPM's view?

Hi Jeff,

Let me quote this from MCAUK website "The constitution clearly states that the club is not a political organization"

So I assume there is no conflict of interest and no double standard? So why the fuss? It blends well with the objectives of both organiser working together so that this event can promote and foster unity among Msians there in UK, as I can see

I am a student in Southampton, which is only 1 and half hours drive from London. Many of us are looking forward to this event and clearly, it wont pop in my mind that this aims to lure future political vote.

Sorry for the mess, this is my 1st time posting

JEFF OOI says: My point is overseas and local students in universities and university colleges must be give equal rights vis-a-vis UUCP. No discrimination.

Cheers for bringing this up Jeff.

One phrase: "Malaysian Kingdom Overseas (MKO)".

Been to one 'open house' before and 'once bitten, twice shy'. Never attended any of these EVER since. Too political and fishy for me.

Now, if I write something too outspoken critisizing the gomen (which involves carry placards in front of the Malaysian embassy in any foreign countries) , will I not be covered by I Say Amen (just like the non-covering of the UUCA to them)? I know there are lots of Falun Gong protestors outside the Chinese Embassy in the UK at anytime. Am I free to express myself, just like the West like to promote? This question remains elusive.

Like you said, 'Malaysia: Macam-macam ada', anything could happen to me! Never know who will be knocking at my door next! Just not too long ago, I had a 'royal' visitor visiting my blog because one of my post appeared at the top of the searches returned for a particular phrase.

Two words of the day: Double standard.

Talking about clubs in the UK.

I doubt that only this club, UKEC is being funded by our lovely govt.

and one matter i realizes is, not all MALAYSIAN clubs in the UK is very much MALAYSIAN. Do a search in all Malaysian UK Clubs and you will see why I state it.

Still, there is a lack of racial and religous unity and integration in few of the clubs that I've seen.

I again, hardly see any prospective future here.

and yes, again, talking about equal rights.

Do you think they will practice what they have not practice in Malaysia?

Trust me, in their agenda is it will only be one and only Malaysia. Selfish! Don't want to follow others. (Equal Rights)
But do you find equal rights everywhere in the world? SELDOM!

Equal Rights will only appear in Malaysia, if, they know deep down in their heart whar it means.

no, the privileged people in Malaysia --even their underlings opoverseas -- are no governed by certain laws -- they apply to the Opposition parties only, and their not-so-well-connected lings. Otherwise, how do you Xplain:

UMNO Peteri wing can enter Malaysian campuses to sign on members?
* UMNO Youth can march on Selangor Chinese Assembly Building to threatening burning down Suqui office house within?
*PS: Note to Howsy -- pls attend and "report" back to Jeff at first-hand, you may even get an croc-sized "angpow" from the Party that features among its leaders a billionaire-at-27 wat! Then can fly back to attend my Saturdae G7 meet!

"the University and University College Act (UUCA) 1971, which forbids students' involvement in politics, by taking part in events organised and financed by political parties?"

Well what about the educational funding of MCA's educational institutions. I go to UTAR and many of our events are funded by MCA I'm sure (directly or indirectly). Are we allowed to join those? Also, MCA people have asked me to join their political events. When I cite the act, they say it is no problem and doesn't really matter.

Before i start Jeff, i would appreciate it if you do not repost this comment verbatim and under my real name as i am currently in a difficult situation with my sponsers over my previous student council stint in Malaysia.If you do choose to post this up, please change the name and location.

This is just to inform you of the current situation in one university, in Australia.

I joined the Malaysian Student Association (MSA)a few years back, in Tasmania, Australia. Our campus is located in Launceston,and the main campus is of course is in Hobart the capital city.We of the Launceston branch are always in envy of our peers in Hobart (and for that matter in the other university, located all over Australia) for the amount of funds they have in their coffers.I can say 60% of our activities are geared towards building funds to finance our few but significant event in the yearly calender i.e. Independance Day Dinner.

The secret of their success came into light one day after a fellow MSA in another university informed us of an proposed visit by an officerfrom the Malaysian government.The officer, gathered the MSA commitee members for a meet one night, a late meet i must add at 11pm.I got word of the meet not through the usual bulletin board but a personal call from the officer requesting my presence at the hotel he was staying. Upon arrival, i was suprised to find the committee members who attended are all of bumiputera/malay background.They too had received the personal phonecall and we wondered why our non malays/bumis didnt receive the similar call.
1 hour later it was clear it was only the malay/bumi members were called.We were invited to setup an UMNO club or affiliate our MSA with the UMNO group.In return, we are to be given a huge boost in fundings by the government of Malaysia.We were then given the same condensending lecture about racial politics etc and how by associating ourselves to UMNO would mean greater benefits for us economically and politcally. In return for their financial backing, we are to uphold UMNO interest in Launceston, be it to show support for the political decision in Malaysia to ensuring other Malaysian political entity do not set up their roots in our campus.

To his credit, the President of our MSA politely refused the offer and at the next meeting told the rest of the commiteee member about the proposal.

Till this day, our MSA is known as the poorest of the lot, unable to attend any of the 4/5 Australian MSA gatherings a year in different states due to dire finances.However, we are proud to say, our MSA still remains a political free association and we have just enough money (from our local fund rising projects) to celebrate Independance day, hold weekly sports gathering and a small emergency fund for any students in need.

I don't get it.

I thought the whole entire point of going to university was to get an education.
Even if there are events, isn't it the student's responsibility to to raise funds and not depend on political parties?

Why the comparison on who throws the most lavish party?

When I was working in an international school, the students as young as elementary school went around asking for sponsorship and thnking of ideas of raising funds for their events.

Can't they do the same in universities (who are supposed to considered mature thinking adults?) What happened to that thinking aspect?

To depend financially on political parties for backing is really a short-cut way to doing things.

I bet these are the people who continue doing this once when leave university.

(ok, digressing here a bit)..I know a chinese man who goes around "undercover" as muslim after converting to Islam. We didn't know he had "converted" till he showed us the conversion card. Not even his family knows. And what the reason for his conversion?

For profits apparently. I felt disgusted with him after hearing that.

It's great that you stuck to your guns.
Nevermind about those other people who are "bribed".

I remember the time when I sat for my driving exam, and everyone paid the "kopi money" for the driving licence, so that they can pass the "on the road" examination.

I didn't pass it the first time round, but I did the second time.

Well,Praise.The.Lord I did!

Whenver people told me about their driving exams, I always told them that I passed the second time around and I passed it the right way.

At least until now I know where I stand in the eyes of those examiners.

Whoa, topic running a bit out of hand. Conversion, driving exams...

I'm a first year in London, and the answer is simple. Back home in Malaysia, it's necessary that students shouldn't be involved in politics because of all the opposition parties there. But over here, in London, there's only one party with the resources to maintain overseas connections, and that's *drumroll* BN. They don't want students here under the influence of PAS or other oppo parties. It's just control, plain and simple.

All university clubs (Malaysian societies and all) are answerable to the MSD (Malaysian Student Department) to the extent that when we leave the country on holiday, we have to inform them: where, how long, who we're going with and so on. Another example: Most universities here have a Malaysian Night (in fact Warwick's just happened last night) where the Malaysian Society of that university puts up a play or show of some kind. Well, MSD demands that all scripts be approved by them before the show can be staged. I mention this only because this is the way they seek to control us here. Students at home are controlled by UUCA, students overseas are controlled thus. You see, it's that word again: CONTROL.

And I can't talk about brainwashing at these events (open houses and so on) cos I've never been to one, but BTN is another story. A few of my friends (Malay scholars) came back quite disgusted at the blatant racism of the instructors. "Malaysia for Malays" and all that sort of bull. Oh well, what to do, this is the world we live in today.

Do a little research and discover that:

the Warwick Malaysian Night which happened yesterday (I bet with all the YBs present) was sponsored by:

drum roll please....
Malaysian Students Department for UK and Ireland

and.....
Umno Coventry and Warrick!

No surprise!

Over next few weeks universities across britain will be hosting these so called nights to "spread the Malaysian culture" (its another excuse for commitees to look as if they are doing some work, or it'd look good on CVs).

And regarding these societies, theres the whole racial divide where some univeristies have both Malaysia sociteis and Malaysia-Singapore (for the chinese) societies.

For instance, there is one society called:
MALAY CULTURAL SOCIETY UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL

Politik?

malaysia tak boleh! england boleh!

Funny that the UKEC logo looks like that of Keadilans!

And after doing some searches on UKEC, I discovered this

"UKEC started to form into KeADILan's International Bureau

Rafizi Ramli, a former president of the United Kingdom Executive Council (UKEC), an umbrella body representing Malaysian student associations there, had said that the MSD created a "culture of fear" using psychological intimidation to deter students from attending events organised by opposition parties or their affiliates.

Rafizi made it clear here that there are affiliates of opposition parties here in the UK. That concludes Hizbi is a PAS component and UKEC(previously neutral NGO) is now a component for Parti KeADILan. Mohd Rafizi Ramli is an Exco of KeADILan Youth and an accountant working in London. He is the Co-ordinating Secretary of Keadilan's International Bureau,London.

The MSD was recently accused of bias when dealing with students of different political leanings. Former student leader Rafizi, who is now a London-based accountant, alleged that the department had threatened students who tried to attend opposition-affiliated events while fully supporting functions organised by government-linked groups like Kelab Umno.

This is a baseless and proofless accusation towards MSD of blindly supporting Kelab UMNO. Rafizi also made statements on behalf of UKEC, but he is not the current President which is Megat Iskandar. Why did not their Exco retaliate?"

http://www.idealis-mahasiswa.net/skopsiswa/hizbimkini8.html

The plot thickens.

Dear Jeff,

Finally the Malaysians outside Malaysia get the coverage we deserve.There are loads of us out here in the UK that are very concerned of the way things are building up in this part of the world, but find it difficult to get a voice, but here it is, and I'll milk it for all it's worth! : )

I have been lucky enough to be part of the UKEC Supreme Council, as all leaders of Malaysia Societies in Universities are entitled to be. Having been to a few of their events, I must say my run-in's have been rather unsavoury, for lack of a better word.

At the end of 2005, UKEC had the pleasure of inviting Datuk Shahrir Samad, President of the Backbencher's Club to address the students here.

In the Q&A session, I manage to ask him to comment on the apparent 'lack-of-attention' to the political activity among students here in the UK, especially using the UKEC to publicise the activity of these political parties.

Datuk Sharir being the seasoned politician that he is, chose to simply answer, he didn't know.

And having been dealing with UKEC during my term, I have received numerous adverts from 'UK-wings' of political parties, all being passed on to us from UKEC. Suprisingly (or not), all these adverts seem to be from a certain coalition, no prizes for guessing which.

It is an open-secret, this apparent 'double-standard'. Has been going on for some time now, and I'll be very surprised if the powers-that-be are not aware of the situation.

This is just the beginning, if we were to probe futher. The whole structure of the UKEC is a bit of a mystery, as anyone who has attended their AGM would attest.

But let's be fair. We are crucifying the lesser evil. Shouldn't these political parties themselves be taken to task!? Being components of the government and knowing full well that all Malaysians are bound by the UUCA, they still go on pushing these adverts to student bodies here in the UK.

Jeff, I think it would be very timely to send MCA a letter instead, and let these poor students in the UKEC concentrate on their studies. I might not be their biggest fans, but taking them to task is definitely aiming in the wrong direction.

Perhaps an e-mail to YB Ong to seek clarification, Jeff?

I have decided to put forth a few points, in point form nonetheless so it's less confusing.

1. Kelab UMNO is not a student body. It is widely thought as being one mainly because of the many branches scattered around the world, there is a sizeable student population there. For instance, it is only natural for Kelab UMNO London to have students as committee members because London is a popular education option. By virtue of this, it is no coincidence that the Kelab UMNO of Copenhagen is made up almost entirely of careerman/women and not students(in other words, people who are not subjected to UUCA). In fact, the first kelab UMNO in New York was initiated by Tunku to function as a social organisation among Malaysians overseas, a function that has not ceased until today.

2. There seems to be a contrived concern by "A very disturbed Londoner" or whoever it was who was 'very concerned' about these Clubs of UMNO and MCA recruiting members during social events. I am unable to comprehend his apprehension, because i thought it is only natural for clubs to draft members. It is a veritable aberration to think that by joining Kelab UMNO, you are joining UMNO(or as applies to MCAUK/MCACA).I concede that kelab UMNO does support UMNO as stated in it's constitution. As such, membership is entirely voluntary.

3. I am not too sure this is the case in London(UK) but social events such as festive celebrations and barbeques are most of the time funded by the MSD here in Australia, either directly or through the student organisations like MASCA(equivalent of UKEC in Australia) or the affiliated student organisations. Kelab UMNO is NOT under MSD because: 1)it is not a student organisation, 2) it has it's own funding i.e. UMNO or self-initiated funraising activities. As such, Kelab UMNO also holds it's own events unmitigatedly separate from those held by MSD, as well as joint-events with MSD. The reasons for co-hosting are various, but from my experience it would be one of manpower and support, if not funding. This point is raised primarily to clarify the disdain shown by 'jlee' about Kelab UMNO Coventry&Warwick co-hosting the Malaysians Night with the MSD, and secondly to show that Kelab UMNO is not at all affiliated with MSD, or receives financial support from MSD.

4. Malaysia Hall is administered by the MSD, and it is used by Malaysians. Maybe Mr. Ooi or fellow commenters cannot understand this issue of practicality and logistics, but almost ALL functions are organised in Msia Hall. Meetings, makan, minum, lepak, tidur etc etc. This includes *drum roll please* Kelab UMNOs. I am sure if Hizbi or whatever organisation wants to hold events there too, MSD would be consenting as long as they are beneficial and not against the spirit of unity among 'anak-anak dagang di negeri orang'.

5. This last point is the most relevant. The letters and spirit of UUCA 1971 do not, at least not to my knowledge, stop university students from to quote Mr. Jeff Ooi, "taking part in events organised and financed by political parties". I am no legal expert, but to put it this bluntly is ridiculous. MCA, UMNO, Keadilan, PAS are known to hold non-political events such as festive celebrations year in year out. Commonsense dictates that among the throngs of families attenting these events, there are bound to be university students. Are these students to be arrested in line with breaching UUCA?I would think not. If they really were, i think UUCA should be amended pertaining to that clause.

Perhaps i can now answer your key questions:
Key questions

1 ) How is it possible that the property of the people of Malaysia be used to proselityse and to buy the influence of future voters currently studying overseas, as a student -- "A very disturbed Londoner" -- who wrote to Screenshots puts it? Answer: The whole basis of your question is a fallacy. Msia Hall is not used to proselityze and influence future voters.If you argue that booths are opened to recuirt kelab UMNO memebers and as such, 'influence voters', i say that membership is entirely voluntary and any propagation is for the benefit of the club and malaysians,and never for UMNO.

2 ) Is it another case of politicians giving out 'ang pows' to the next generation of voters?Answer:No. Many students don't even know that Kelab UMNO is at least partially funded by UMNO. It is up to the Club on how to spend it, so even if students know we get funding from UMNO, they also know that is the Club, and not the party, that chooses to hold these events.

3 ) How is it that the body supposedly formed to represent Malaysian students be alligned with a particular party?Answer:it is not a student body. It is a social club affiliated with a political party. Membership and support of the club is never coerced, nor does kelab UMNO has ever proclaimed itself as 'representing Malaysian students'.

I hope my brief explanation clarifies some of your doubts.

Faiz Fazil,
Sydney Australia.

I am rather surprised that MCA has the cheek to show up in overseas student bodies. In my overseas students days, any MCA running dogs would be neutered on the spot without anaesthetic for all Malaysian overseas students knew that had MCA been able to fight for equal rights of university entry there would not be a large number of Malaysian overseas students to begin with. As for the ever caring MSD, no self respecting Malaysian overseas students would care to response to their oh so caring concerns, which again if there were equal rights of all citizens, there would be no need to even have this MSD.

There was never any equal rights in Malaysia so why fret over apparent double standards?

Faiz (patrioticmalaysiana),

Why are you dragging in the Tunku? Don't think that you can legitimize Kelab UMNO by using his name. Tunku formed the first Kelab UMNO before UUCA which only came into place in the 70s. The late Tunku didn't even join UMNO Baru by the way. Anyway, the Parti Perikatan of 1955 is a totally different animal from Barisan Nasional 2006.

Still, you haven't answered the point about the UUCA and how its being consistently applied by the ruling government.

Nobody's saying that they are being forced to join. The point is that the government's money and resources (read: people's money) is being used to organize events to recruit and promote the ruling government's (read: Barisan Nasional) interest.

Would Malaysia Hall in London take in Hizbi as a co-organizer for their Raya Open House? How about DAP Socialist Youth for CNY?

Regarding sponsorship of student societies, the point being made is that the money of political parties is being used to support supposedly independent Malaysian Societies. In other words, it's like America pouring money into certain countries in the Middle East.

The condition of "MSD would be consenting as long as they are beneficial and not against the spirit". As long as.... Ha! Ha! Ha! Beneficial? Beneficial to UMNO you mean?

Regarding the UUCA, then what is this about students being "dikenakan tindakan disiplin" at some IPTAs?

And yes, one important point being discussed here is the calling for the repeal or ammendemnt of the UCCA.

The three questions:
1. MSD money (taxpayer's money) used to co-organize an MCA event (members only).

2. The same as 1.

3. The body being referred to is the "UKEC" not Kelab UMNO. The claim of "representing Malaysian students" has been made by the UKEC.

Whole point is:
1. Hypocrisy and double standards with regards to UUCA
2. Mixing up the use of resources belonging to all Malaysian Taxpayers for the benefit of the BN parties

A very patriotic Malaysian who doesn't want to see his country being further destroyed and torn apart by race politics.

jay
Leicester, UK

Faiz Fazil: Give us the facts and write with logic!

Any organisation that assoicate political party is deem for political purposes. It is a simple mathematic equation where a primary school student can tell you. Hello! Have you ever study the equation of "SET" and "SUBSET".

In facts, even Kelab UMNO establish before UUCA law in place, they should abolish the body! There is no excuses to continue it ANY PLACE IN THE WORLD after they help pass UUCA.

WORST, as the logic apply, Kelab UMNO are ILLEGAL according to Malaysia law.

I wish the following URL can help you refresh something you learn from the school.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subset
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/logic

Faiz,
I think you're missing the point a little. The issue here is the dichotomy between the rules in Malaysia and overseas. Why are students in Malaysia forbidden to join any political party or take part in political activities, whereas overseas, they are? As to your point that Kelab UMNO is not a political club, well, why call it Kelab UMNO at all? Why are they even overseas in the first place? You're right that there's no coercion to join. However, shouldn't they bar students from joining, even if those students want to join of their own free will?

Again I must reiterate that I've never been to any of these functions, nor have I joined Kelab UMNO/MCAUK so I'm not sure about the level of involvement the political parties have, but my point about the names of the clubs still stands.

Offtopic: suiseng, were you from ACS, Klang?

Faiz's posted comment was an interesting piece of reading and he had every right to voice out his own personal view.

However, it's sad to say that not only does racial segregation becomes more visible amongst many Malaysian based societies throughout UK universities, the very fact that Kelab UMNO (or any other political clubs) tries to make its presence felt lately within these student entities has worsen the situation further.

Being a graduate student, I am neither politically inclined nor am I racially prejudiced, but I would rather get involved actively in a student body that would actually work together in harmony with a clear vision towards its goals, and that it would benefit all the members (i.e. full-fledged Malaysians and not Malays only) instead of a selected few with a hidden agenda.

Simple examples would be the gathering of festive seasons, seeking of grants and annual election of committe members..which at times would lead to discontentment and backbiting among fellow members towards some who tries to impose rules and regulations of their own judgement, much to the dismay of others.

Unity does not seems to be the buzz word among the student bodies nowadays (those that I've attended and observed so far) when in actual fact, this is very much the core issue to reflect upon by us Malaysians when living abroad. We are after all, currently the living examples of a tolerant multi-racial society with different religous beliefs, in the eyes of the world.

Just a humble thought.

There is another twist to this 'political' involvement abroad - AUKU aside. In the UK 'non-political' clubs such as Kelab UMNO, MCAUK and the like are allowed to operate, but clubs that are affiliate to the opposition, for example, Hizbi (allegedly linked to PAS) have been banned. Students have been known to have their scholarships revoked due to involvement with Hizbi - this is open knowledge.

A few years ago the honourable Noh Omar himself came to speak to the students about this, albeit failing to explain why a club whose name clearly has a party's name in it is apolitical, but a club / society that does not have such a giveaway name such as Hizbi is considered politically motivated. I agree, most activities of Kelab UMNO are social in nature: parties, gatherings etc. But funding still comes from UMNO in Malaysia, and when UMNO ministers visit the country, guess which parties climb atop one another to lay the reddest of red carpets?

Abroad, at home, there is no difference. Stick with UMNO and you're all right. Otherwise, learn to pay for it: now or in the future.

I was browsing the UKEC's website when I came upon this issue raised by Jeff Ooi. Rather than commenting on the whole issue, I would like to reply on a few tiny issues raised by the uninformed.

Initially, I wasn't too keen on writing or commenting about this. However, after reading through the comments posted by some of the site's visitors, I felt obliged to at least reply briefly to some of the unfair comments written about Warwick Malaysian Students' Association (Warwick MSA), or more specifically on Malaysia Night.

As an active member of the Warwick MSA, I felt the comments made by hann and jlee on Jeff Ooi's website are unfair and incorrect descriptions of Warwick MSA. Below are the comments:

"Another example: Most universities here have a Malaysian Night (in fact Warwick's just happened last night) where the Malaysian Society of that university puts up a play or show of some kind. Well, MSD demands that all scripts be approved by them before the show can be staged. I mention this only because this is the way they seek to control us here. Students at home are controlled by UUCA, students overseas are controlled thus. You see, it's that word again: CONTROL."

Written by hann on 12 February 2006.

Do a little research and discover that:

the Warwick Malaysian Night which happened yesterday (I bet with all the YBs present) was sponsored by:

drum roll please....
Malaysian Students Department for UK and Ireland

and.....
Umno Coventry and Warrick!

No surprise!

Written by jlee on 13 February 2006.

First of all, in response to hann's comments, I would like to clarify that Warwick MSA is an independent student body under the University of Warwick's Students' Union. Malaysian Students Department (MSD) do not have any say or power in the way Warwick MSA run their own events. As an organisation representing the majority of Malaysian students in the University of Warwick, Warwick MSA took the initiative to be affiliated with MSD, as this ensures an effective distribution of information from the Malaysian High Commission in London. Other than the odd visits from MSD's officers and nominal sponsorships for few big events, MSD's involvement with Warwick MSA is minimal.

Hence, to claim that Malaysia Night's scripts are screened by MSD is totally wrong. In fact, if MSD had actually done this, some parts of the Malaysia Night 2005 might not even made it to the stage. hann might have encountered this 'script censorship' elsewhere, but to name Warwick MSA in the same breadth is unfair and biased.

In response to jlee's comments, I would like to clarify a few things. Firstly, there was no YB present during the Malaysia Night. It is not our custom to invite politicians for any of our events. Secondly, I admit that UMNO Coventry and Warwick did sponsor Malaysia Night for the past few years. However, this sponsorship is merely for a mention in the programme book and also website.

As a Malaysian students' organisation in the UK, we are not aware of the 1971's UUCA mentioned by Jeff Ooi, and even if we do, we do not feel that we are obliged to follow it as we are based in the UK. Out-of-coverage or not, it is a non-issue for us. Had PAS or DAP came forward offering sponsorship, we would have accepted it with open hand, as long as they do not meddle with the running of Warwick MSA. We'd rather accept monetary contribution from outside parties than burdening our members with extra charges.

Hopefully, the explanations above will clarify the misconceptions posted on Jeff Ooi's website. The comments made hann and jlee might be applicable to other Malaysian societies in the UK, but definitely not in Warwick.

Ahmad Shahredzuan
University of Warwick