Power of student activism
It is fair to say that the students can be the spark for a broader struggle ahead.
By Khoo Ying Hooi, FMT
Given the current dynamic atmosphere of Malaysian politics, campus elections in the public universities are steadily gaining attention.
Last year, a Pro-Mahasiswa (Pro-M) candidate Masturah Abu Bakar from Universiti Malaya was allegedly kidnapped during the campus elections.
(Pro-M is widely regarded as an anti-establishment party as opposed to the pro-government Pro-Aspirasi.)
This time, Pro-M student leaders claimed that they received intimidation and death threats while UM Pro-M national chairman Edikoup Lakip Sediyantoa claimed that he was assaulted by unknown assailants.
With the rise of the new generation, voices of dissent are shaking the foundations of the old order around the globe.
When it comes to campus polls, the question always arises: should students be kept away from politics or should they be allowed to take an active part in politics?
Historically, the 1960s saw student activism and discontent erupt all over the world and were seen as a significant force for social change.
Student movements have played a crucial role in many major social and political transformations. Clearly, students around the world have been part of various movements to promote democracy and human rights.
Their role is indeed crucial as they are the backbone of society. Nowadays, students are often asked to reflect on the future challenges of their society. So, if they are not taught in the way they should, the future of society will be in danger.
Interest in politics as an academic subject in Malaysia is certainly increasing and it is undeniable that the university serves as one of the places to nurture political ambitions.
Looking at the development of student activism in the country, are our students nowadays like their counterparts in the 1960s?
The student activism in the 1960s was so influential that it not only changed the political climate, it also paved the way for the rise of the current generation of students.
Student activism elsewhere
It is important to look at the famous national student organisation, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).
The SDS was founded in 1960 at the University of Michigan by a group of students and youths intending to search for an alternative path to Cold War politics. It was the largest and most influential student organisation in the US during the 1960s.
