Umno man comes to Marina’s defence following alleged university forum ban

(The Rakyat Post) – “It is quite apparent that the spirit to the amendment of Section 15 of the Universities and University Colleges Act is not understood by many university administrators.”

An Umno man has come to the support of human rights activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir who claimed she had been barred from participating in a university forum, describing the matter as sad.

National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said this was not the first time a public figure had been barred from entering campus compound to give a talk.

“This has happened before I became a deputy minister, when I was a deputy minister and even after that.” the former Higher Education Deputy Minister said to reporters at the Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMM) headquarters today.

Saifuddin said even he was barred from giving a talk in a local university when he was in office and claimed that the list was growing by the day.

“It is quite apparent that the spirit to the amendment of Section 15 of the Universities and University Colleges Act is not understood by many university administrators.

“This is not shocking news, but sad because of all people it is Marina and it is about time university administrators change their way of doing things,” Saifuddin said.

Previously, in a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal was reported to have had struck down Section 15 of the Act after declaring it unconstitutional and against the guaranteed right of free speech.

In her Facebook posting, a frustrated Marina said: “Well, well, well … got invited by students from a public university and (what a surprise!) the same thing happened.”

She added that the students sent her a message: “I am very sorry that they (Jabatan Hal Ehwal Pelajar or Student Affairs Department) strictly denied permission for your entry to our campus.

“Not much could be argued as we were told all IPTAs (public institutions) are taking a similar approach.”

Marina said she did not want to reveal which university was involved as she did not want to get the students into trouble.

Previously, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was denied access to the University Malaya campus ground to give a talk last year.