malaysia

What a weak excuse to bar Najib critic at varsities, Kit Siang tells Idris Jusoh

March 09, 2016

Asia’s top debater Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was supposed to talk to youth from two public universities. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 9, 2016.Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh’s explanation that two universities have the authority to ban Asia’s top debater Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman from speaking to students at two events does not wash, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang says.

The Gelang Patah MP said no one would believe Idris, unless local universities also banned ministers or the prime minister from their campuses.

He said Idris should have instead sent an “unmistakable message” to all public universities country that they had the “autonomy” not to bar Syed Saddiq from speaking at events held on campus grounds.

“Would Idris do this and get the local universities to revoke the ban on Syed Saddiq?” he asked in a statement today hours after Idris defended the decision by the two universities.

Earlier today, Idris said universities have the autonomy to allow or bar any individuals from taking part in any of the programmes organised in their premises.

Syed Saddiq, who is Asia’s top debater, was supposed to speak at two events in Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim) until they were cancelled and postponed at the last minute.

Syed Saddiq, 23, who earlier expressed his disappointment that he could not speak to his peers on topics, including Palestine, the refugee crisis and volunteerism among youth, said it was possible that he was barred from speaking because of his previous political statements.

The youth has been critical of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and was one of the signees of the Citizens’ Declaration recently initiated by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to oust Najib. – March 9, 2016.