Freedom of Expression for Students.

[ttsim2000]

There is this thing that,
we, recommers, are enjoying now,
students all over developed country, are thriving on it now,
but, students at home are struggling to get it....

It is called Freedom of Expression.

http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/64531

I post this message because, this is another student issue at home that needs attention of all Malaysian students abroad. At the minimum, understand what is going on.

Why freedom of expression is important?
Why so many students at home fight for this idealism?
Why were they risking everything for what they believed in?
What constructive effort can we all do to expand this fundamental rights?

[digimushu]

In a country where dyeing your hair is banned in universities, it is obvious that the powers that be want to ensure that almost all conceivable form of expression is suppressed.

Honestly, we all know this is going on and it is not just in universities. But then, unless someone from the top wants to see a change in the status quo, i doubt we will be able to do anything.

[chenchow]

Personally, I would think that we should look into Freedom Of Expression objectively. To be frank, I think we have a decent amount of that freedom, although Malaysia is not as free as countries like United States.

Back in Malaysia, we can always write to the media, and there are independent media like Malaysiakini which would publish any letter that we write. Back in high school, my school has a Speaker's Corner, where we can just go to the microphone to speak out any issue, and the principal or the senior assistant would be there to jot down the issues, and perhaps contact the students, to try and solve the problem. A couple times a year, all the student leaders will gather together and spend a few days thinking about how to cooperate, suggest feedback to school etc. And of course, there is a mailbox for students to write to Principal. The Principal tries to instill students' courage to write about the truth, so the Principal requires the students' name be written on it, and the Principal will contact the students and get in touch to solve the problems. Although this measure does not go down too well with some of the teachers, as some students would comment about how some teachers teach, and the Principal will do an investigation on the teachers, and sometimes, the teachers would get reprimanded.

This may be a small instance of a high school back in Malaysia, and not the entire country. I personally think that we get a chance to voice out, but we need to voice out responsibly. For instance, the NS committee is having road show throughout the country to hear feedback from any Malaysian on how to improve NS.

[ttsim2000]

I often remember a quote "The people always get the government they deserve". If the people do not care about what is happening, then the power will continue to rule that way.

We should have reverse mentality change at this point. Sometimes, we cannot hope a change of mind from the top, but, it is the change of the ordinary people that matter.

I recently came across an article on "Making Democracies work in 47 societies" in a Harvard research paper. It is vital for civil societies like Recom, Msia Forum, Red Cross, Hokkien Association, Kelab silat, Lion's club etc to strenghten social capital. These civil societies are the lifeblood of democracy, the paper argued.
I really feel that it is really true to the context of Msia. And the
more we strengthen recom, make more connection with other groups such as student groups in Msia, the more we will help to strengthen democracy back home.
for more info: http://ksghome.harvard.edu/~pnorris/ACROBAT/ESFSocialCapital.pdf

[ttsim2000]

The USM authority is very similar with UC Berkeley's authority in 1960s. They were oppressive, reactive and inhumane.

Here's one famous quote by Mario Savio, a student activist:
"There is a time when the operation of the machine (UC Berkeley authority) becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part; you can't even passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all!"

For more info:
http://www.fsm-a.org/

I believe this first very important step is to get the local university students aware of what freedom of speech entailsand what consitutes responsible use of this freedom.

The basis of speech is to communicate ideas, freedom to do so means freedom to communicate our ideas. Some ideas might be hateful and perhaps harmful (like we should kill people of a certain race X etc.), therefore a crucial component in education is the ability to critically evaluate ideas (even if it comes from a trusted friend).

Therefore, I would suggest as a constructive step forward to have a program that educates the local undergrads on how to critically evaluate ideas. There are many books written on this subject, but can't think any good ones on the top of my mind. If you know of any, do suggest it to us in this forum.

[PeiWen]

I remember a lecturer ever said that, you all as the students of this univerosty, definitely have the rights to ask for something you deserve, the better facilities, the quaity services etc, as you're paying through your noses for the fees!
Yea, definitely, we students, especially in tertiary education, have the rights to fight to get what we deserve as we all are not getting the education FOC. However, I've noticed that many students although are experiencing dissatisfying facilities or services, they're just too lazy to adhere to the problems. Rather, they'll complain, complain about it, discuss the issues among themselves, and express lots of dissatisfactory, yet any clear action is being done? None. Even with the Student Representative Council presence, the students mostly are too lazy (perhaps they just don't want to take the trouble to go through the processes of getting the issues to the authority) to bring it even to the representatives that may help them change the status quo.
Besides, perhaps even with the petition written, just needed their signatures or participation in supporting the the problems occured, so that it'll be more valid when bring it to the top management, the students even want to think twice, or just afraid of any aftermath may arise due to the petition.

[Thirdshifter]

Even primary and secondary school is not exactly "free"

The goverment gets their money from taxes paid by you. Interest free loans for investment from KWSP. It;s all your money. Like everywhere else, nothing is free in Malaysia.

[chenchow]

I would say that we do have some opportunities to bring upon the attention of the authority of any changes that we hope to make. However, I would say that we need to be tactful, and suggest it constructively.

Instead of pointing fingers saying that "That method is useful. Everyone suffer from that." ,why don't use diplomacy, by suggesting another better remedial, which ideally would be a win-win situation or at least win-equal situation. That would be able to get your suggestion through and be courteous and be open for discussion.

Often, a lot of people are complaining behind the scene, but not many take the step ahead to take action. We often would not want to bother about it, while hoping for others to do it instead, but if everyone is thinking that way, who would be carrying out that action?

[wawa]

The basis of speech is to communicate ideas, freedom to do so means freedom to communicate our ideas.

My former schoolmate's friend stood up and posed a questioned which the lecturer couldn't answer. Next thing he knows, he's failed the paper. Such 'minor' incidents often then not silences students as they'll think 'survive the four years and go' rather than proactively changing the university environment.

And with the Kota Bharu authorities wanting to impose their dress codes on non-Muslim women, I think freedom of speech kind of takes a back seat in the authorities minds, don't you think?