When UUCA is out-of-coverage overseas... ( 2 )
February 14, Screenshots asked a couple of straight questions:
- If Malaysian students studying overseas are allowed privilegeous exception from the letters and spirit of the University and University College Act (UUCA) 1971, why would the authorities deny local Malaysian students such grooming in their motherland?
- Why wouldn't the Barisan Nasional component parties strike up courage to propose abolishing UUCA 1971 so that, once and for all, Malaysian students, irrespective of which country they study in, are given equal rights that they deserve?
The blog entry attracted the attention of Malaysiakini (Chinese Edition). Journalist Kuek Ser Kuang Keng wrote to Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad, the current chair of student body the United Kingdom Executive Council for Malaysian Students (UKEC), seeking clarification to issues raised in the aforesaid Screenshots entry over the controversial Chinese New Year Open House organised by UKEC & Malaysian Students Department in UK & Ireland (MSD) in co-operation with The Malaysian Chinese Association Club United Kingdom (MCACUK) on Chap Goh Mei.
The Malaysiakini journalist invited Wan Mohd Firdaus' perspective on related several issues, including:
- What are the principles or stands of UKEC in dealing with political parties?
- During other festivals such as Hari Raya or Deepavali, did UKEC hold such open house together with other political parties? If it did, which parties?
- Does MSD, in certain extent, serve as a platform for ruling parties to expand their political support among Malaysian students in UK as claimed by some of the students?
UKEC to organise public forum on the issue
Wan Mohd Firdaus has since replied. He admitted that, personally, he "accepts that the events being done in ‘collaboration’ with the political clubs like UMNO Club, MCA,MIC will raise certain eyebrows". However, he also hastened to emphasise that "in principle, we have no problems to host or work or collaborate with anyone, but no, we are of no particular political views".
On the question of why Malaysian student bodies in UK, like UKEC, Umno Club and MCAUK, are allowed to function overseas while students within Malaysia are denied the same rights pursuant to UUCA 197l, Wan Mohd Firdaus said: "Maybe this is a different debate all together, and I think to make it more interesting, UKEC will organize a public forum on this topic".
He, however, did not provide details on how the proposed public forum would be carried out.
I present UKEC's reply verbatim in a downloadable document file (137K).
Malaysiakini has a story on this:
与大马学生局合办新春开放日
马华英国俱乐部遭网民非议
Appreciate if there is a reader out there who could help out in the translation:
与大马学生局合办新春开放日
马华英国俱乐部遭网民非议
郭史光庆
Feb 15, 06 6:09pm
日前一场远在英国伦敦举办的新春开放日，成功吸引了约500名大马留学生齐聚一堂。但是这场新春聚会却在网民之间，引发了政党利用纳税人金钱搞政治宣传的争论。
根据英国大马学生理事会（United Kingdom Executive Council for Malaysian Students, UKEC）（简称理事会）的网页显示，这场在本月12日当地时间下午1时，于伦敦大马礼堂所举办的新春庆典是由该理事会和英国及爱尔兰大马学生局联办，以及马华英国俱乐部协办。
学生理事会被质疑为何与政党合作
不过这场新春开放日，却引起网民的阵阵非议，也在著名部落客黄泉安的部落格掀起热烈的讨论。部分网民指马华英国俱乐部利用纳税人的金钱，向目前尚在国外留学的“未来选民”争取支持。他们也质疑自称代表在英国的大马籍留学生的理事会，为何与政党俱乐部连成一线。
其中一名英国留学生质问，“为何在属于大马人民的礼堂里（大马礼堂），以及由纳税人金钱所举办的场合中，提供平台让政党进行宣传？”
“为何我要缴交会员费，给原本应该代表我和我的同伴们，但现却与政党利益合作的理事会？”
另一方面，究竟谁是主办单位也是一个谜团。虽然英国大马学生理事会宣传本身是主办单位，但是马华俱乐部网页的通告却表示它是由英国及爱尔兰大马学生局主办，以及马华俱乐部联办，完全但没有提及理事会的名字。
英国及爱尔兰大马学生局（Malaysian Students Department for the United Kingdom and Eire, MASDUKE）隶属于我国高等教育部和大马驻英国最高专员署，属于大马政府的其中一个公共部门，负责照顾大马籍留学生的福利和其他事务。
也与巫统俱乐部联办“马来西亚之夜”
之后，部落格里的讨论更揭发于本月11日在英国华威大学（University of Warwick）所举办的“马来西亚之夜”的主办单位，包括了学生局与巫统华威俱乐部。
一名维护政党俱乐部的网民说“俱乐部招收会员是自然不过的......以为加入巫统俱乐部就是加入巫统的想法是完全不合理的，我承认巫统俱乐部在它的章程中是支持巫统的，但是成为会员与否完全出于自愿”。
“巫统俱乐部有本身的资金来源，并非来自学生局......它与学生局联办活动的理由众多，从我的经验来看，如果不是为了金钱赞助，就可能是人力资源的配合或相互的协助。”
理事会选择“第3条道路”
针对上述争议，《当今大马》通过电邮联络了理事会主席菲道斯（Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad）。后者则传发长达9页的文告澄清。
在声明中，菲道斯不断强调该理事会是独立和不倾向任何政党，“我们一直以来都是独立的，在最理想的情况下，我们不支持任何特定的政治看法......在经济上，我们并非由高教部或教育部资助，我们有自己的资金来源”。
“我们希望将（英国的）‘第3条道路’思潮带入理事会，尝试不倾向任何一方（执政党或反对党）。”
他举例理事会超越政党的活动，包括理事会曾经举办论坛讨论大马教育课题，以及针对备受争议的国家干训局（Biro Tatanegara）进行问卷调查。
据晓，所有获得政府或政府相关公司奖贷学金的留学生，都必须出席国家干训局举办的课程，以进行“政治洗脑”。
马华俱乐部没资助开放日
菲道斯证实开放日的经费来自学生局，并非马华英国俱乐部。马华俱乐部只是协助宣传和出席开放日。
他也不反对由学生局赞助这样的开放日，“我认为留学英国的大马学生，不会愚蠢到视这些免费食物为‘捞取选票’”。
询及理事会是否曾经与其他政党联办活动，菲道斯并没有直接回答，只表示他不排除与反对党合作的可能性，并声称“如果《当今大马》能够安排胡桑慕沙（回教党副主席）、林吉祥（国会反对党领袖）或凯里（巫青团副团长）到伦敦，我们乐意接待他们一起出席论坛，同时邀请他们到英国和爱尔兰的其他城市”。
他也不认为学生局是执政党争取留学生支持的平台，“但是在某些场合中，我的看法可能有错误”。
廖中莱：马华俱乐部照顾留学生福利
马华英国俱乐部的其中一名顾问，既马青总会长廖中莱认为对马华俱乐部所做的指责都是不确实的，“那不是政治宣传，而是为了照顾海外留学生的福利”。
他在接受《当今大马》电访时表示，马华在国外的俱乐部有助向留学生传达国内的资讯，使之更为了解国内情况，同时协助并鼓励他们克服乡愁。
“因此应该鼓励学生参与俱乐部，相信它们的活动并不具浓厚的政治色彩，大家不应过于敏感。”
留学生不受大专法令管辖
黄泉安本身在部落格中，也质疑当局持有具有双重标准，因为限制本地大专生结社自由的《1971年大专法令》，并没有实施在留学生身上。
《1971年大专法令》规定大专生在没有得到大学校长书面允许下，不得参与或向校外组织，包括政党和公会表示支持、同情或反对。
菲道斯表示，由于大多在英国的大马学生组织，都是在个别英国大学的学生会底下注册，因此技术上并不受大专法令管辖。
“但是我们不能说政府允许我们保持独立性。不过，英国和爱尔兰的大马组织都具有其独立性。”
《当今大马》也电邮马华英国俱乐部的主席，但是至今尚未得到回应。
欲阅读英国大马学生理事会声明全文，可浏览理事会网页。
Comments
Quote: "It is quite clear I think that we the British educated Malaysian students here are not stupid enough to consider all this free food as ‘mengumpan undi’."
I've been to one (where it was not widely publicised, just tagged along with a one-time friend) where they have a membership drive booth there explicitly having a political party sign there. How does that explain as not to 'mengumpan undi'?
And like I really give a damn about the free food? I could even cook Malaysian food better than half of them! I just attended to experience back my lost Malaysian festive atmosphere, which unfortunately turned out to be a political sermon and membership drive.
Posted by: howsy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 16, 2006 12:37 AM
one interesting thing about the UKEC's reply is that it is claimed, categorically, that MCA had nothing to do with the event beyond promoting it, turning up for the day, and helping a bit in the preparations.
but really, we need to hear the reply from MCAUK (if any is forthcoming) to know the full story. The use of the word "as far as I'm concerned" shows the UKEC position, that it doesn't know where the money is coming from besides MSD. an interesting read, but ultimately, the point is that the UKEC is not aligned to any political party (which we already know) and they do not consider the presence of MCAUK to be a problem (which was, and still is, debaetable).
Posted by: ruykava![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 16, 2006 07:37 AM
well like many others, we only go for the free food and to meet other Malaysians. It will not affect my voting. It may seem like "Kacang lupa kulit", but it's for the future :)
Posted by: kuzco![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 16, 2006 09:22 AM
Firdaus is evading. If he can't give better answer ,silence is a good choice.
In short :
It doesn't matter whether UUCA exist in UK or not. Those Bolehland ruling parties assoicated named student association MUST BE ABOLISHED because they are the one passing the UUCA law in Malaysia.
Posted by: moo_t![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 16, 2006 12:09 PM
May I add on.
See for yourself this million-dollar picture:
http://www.mcacuk.org/meetinghonchoonkim5.jpg
Can you explain what is the link between that auspicious £138 and Public Bank all about?
No funding? Think again...
Posted by: howsy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 16, 2006 07:18 PM
The plot thickens and more Exposés on their website:
1. Meeting with MCA Party President Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting in Sheffield, United Kingdom, March 2005.
2. Meeting with Y.B Dato' Sri Chan Kong Choy and Dato' Dr. John Tan, 25 November 2005 at Four Seasons Hotel, London.
3. Meeting with Dato' Hon Choon Kim on 11 January 2006 at Royal Court Hotel, London.
Question:
1. Can someone explain that if MCA Club Uk is NOT a political club, what and why are these MCA politicians doing there? I don't see Kit, Teresa or Tian Chua in any of these meetings there.
2. Where do they get the funding from for these meetings (which I think do not co-incide with any 'lawatan sambil belajar' trips)?
Posted by: howsy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 16, 2006 07:28 PM
howsy: i think you are slightly confusing the issue (or maybe it's me). it has NEVER been said that MCACUK is NOT a political student organisation. the point here is whether the UKEC, a supposedly non-political student assocation, should be helping to promote politics via MCACUK. of course, there is the biggest point of all: whether the MCACUK should even exist. but that's not in contention in relation to UKEC's reply.
thanks for pointing out MCACUK's website. i find it interesting that on the MCACUK's website:
"We would like to invite all Malaysians to our Chinese New Year Open House at Malaysia Hall"
-wait, it's THEIR CNY Open House and not UKEC's?; and
"This CNY Open House is organised by Malaysian Students Department in UK & Ireland in collaboration with MCACUK" -so where's UKEC?
Posted by: ruykava![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 17, 2006 05:52 PM