KUCHING: Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin’s recent statement that his ministry is not interested in carrying out educational policing by controlling politics in universities is a ‘confusing signal’.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) political scientist Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan said the minister was earlier seen as allowing political parties to set up branches in universities but now he is rescinding his earlier decision.
“The minister (from Umno) is unsure about how to handle the issue as his party’s political interest may override his better neutral judgement,” he said.
Yesterday (April 3), Khaled told reporters that he did not say that political parties would be allowed to set up branches in universities. But, they can enter the universities for other activities with permission from the respective university’s authorities.
“This is because we don’t want our future graduates to only have knowledge, but we also want to develop them to have an open mind,” Khaled said.
However, Jayum, felt that as the Higher Education Minister, Khaled should take it upon himself to set a good example; for students to learn about the political process and come out as capable future leaders instead of allowing politics in universities.
He said politics is part of everyday activities and lives and there is no control over it. Therefore, it is the leaders of coalitions and political parties as well as ministers that should be setting the right example of quality leadership.
Jayum, who is also the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) Fellow, said he would be disappointed if political parties are allowed to exist in universities after trying so long to prevent politics from seeping into campuses.
According to him, some political parties are already dividing society, hence, he does not want this to happen to university students in the country.
“I want the students to use their time and focus on their studies instead of politics,” he said.
On another note, Jayum said educational reforms should have meant making changes and improvements, instead of defending the weakness of the education system to produce civilised Malaysians.
For instance, he said, the Education Ministry should have come up with plans on how to return the start date of the schooling session to January as well as Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) to be held at the end of the year, like how things were done before Covid-19.
“I am also a parent and I am still waiting for positive changes in the education system after the unity government led the country for 100 days.
“Don’t tell us the dates of (SPM) will continue to be in March, which (I think) is odd. Tell us what the plan is. How to revert the date like in the past, where the exam is held at the end of the year, which is also the end of the academic year,” he said.
For those who are no capable of performing, Jayum said that it is better for them to step down and make way for other leaders who can bring real changes and reforms, to benefit the country and its people, especially on education matters.
