Monday August 18, 2008 MYT 2:56:38 PM

University students protest amendment to University Act

By SIM LEOI LEOI

KUALA LUMPUR: Around 100 university students gathered at the road leading to the Parliament building here to protest against the proposed amendment to the University and University Colleges Act.

Five of the students later came to the Parliament lobby and gave their memorandum to Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Idris Haron, who promised to look into their complaints.

"I will also invite students to sit in for the Parliament sittings when the Bill is being debated so that they can see the entire process.

"I appreciate the efforts they have taken to look through the Bill," he said after receiving the memorandum.

The Bill, which was tabled for first reading in July, will be debated this meeting.

Gerakan Mansuhkan AUKU coordinator Zulfattah Ibrahim said the coalition was against the Act and this should be repealed in the interests of the undergraduates.

"Any attempt by the ministry to amend this Act is in vain and will not bring any benefit to us.

"After looking through the Bill, we reject the proposals because these are only cosmetic in nature," he said.