Loke says Wee and MCA Youth were only now jumping on the bandwagon.
DAP MP Anthony Loke has labelled Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong a “hypocrite” for backing today’s court ruling against the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), reminding the MCA Youth chief that his party leaders had previously supported the controversial law.
The Rasah MP pointed out that when amendments to the law were tabled in Parliament in 2008, Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers — including MCA MPs — had not objected to them.
“Not one MCA MP fought for the repeal of Section 15 of the Act and suggestions for its amendment by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs at the committee stage were also opposed by BN MPs, including those from MCA,” Loke said in a statement here.
The DAP Socialist Youth chief rubbished Wee’s claim that MCA Youth has been consistent in its stand on the UUCA, saying instead that the struggle to repeal the law was always a PR agenda.
“MCA Youth’s political hypocrisy was clearly reflected in its chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong’s statement today,” said Loke.
Wee earlier lauded the Court of Appeal’s ruling that the UUCA was unconstitutional, saying MCA has always been against the law.
The deputy education minister had also pointed out that one of the resolutions passed during this year’s MCA Youth annual general meeting called for the abolition of Section 15 of UUCA to return the freedoms of assembly and association to university students.
In a majority 2-1 judgment, a three-man panel of judges ruled today that Universiti Kebangaan Malaysia (UKM) had breached Article 10 of the Federal Constitution when it disciplined four students involved in a political campaign last year under Section 15(5)(a) of the UUCA.
However, it is unclear whether the judgment allows all students in higher education centres to take part in political activities.
Section 15(5)(a) of the UUCA states: “No student of the University and no organisation, body or group of students of the University which is established by, under or in accordance with the Constitution, shall express or do anything which may reasonably be construed as expressing support for or sympathy with or opposition to any political party, whether in or outside Malaysia”.
“DAPSY will continue pushing for the repeal of the UUCA and we will support any effort by any student movement towards this end,” said Loke.
