Gerakan Vice President Dato’ Mah Siew Keong today congratulates the four UKM students who had succeeded in their appeal which draws Malaysia a step closer to wider freedom of expression and more freedom to practice academic freedom for the purpose of pursuing knowledge amongst students.

“In this new era it is unreasonable and no longer realistic to be restricting undergraduates from observing a by-election, what more political science students. The restriction itself infringes the basic civil liberties of individuals. The university and college students today are the leaders of the nation tomorrow, it is important that they are given ample exposure to the politics in the country as they are the ones who will determine the future of our country,” said Dato’ Mah.

The standpoint of Gerakan and Gerakan Youth has always been to repeal or abolish the UUCA 1971 in order to uphold the basic individual freedom enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Dato’ Mah Siew Keong also urged the Ministry of Higher Education to not appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal that Section 15(5) of the UUCA 1971 is unconstitutional, instead, the Ministry ought to consider repealing or abolishing the outdated Act to defend the freedom of expression and freedom in political participation for undergraduates.