[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 30 Aug 1999
Time: 01:07:09
Remote User: -
'Monitor lecturers, students' KUALA TERENGGANU: Umno Youth has urged the Education Ministry to set up a special committee to monitor students and lecturers at public institutions of higher learning involved in anti-government activities. Chairman of Umno Youth's Undergraduate and Training Council, Zein Isma Ismail, said the committee was necessary as there were a handful of students who were now more bold in opposing the Government openly.
"The actions of the students and lecturers involved appear as though they are ungrateful for the Government's deeds to the people. Umno Youth is very sad over this development," he said.
Yesterday, Education director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Abdullah said the ministry would set up a disciplinary committee to submit concrete proof on allegations that teachers were involved in inciting students to hate the Government.
He said the committee would be represented by three parties, school headmasters or principals, state Education Department representatives and the School Inspectorate.
Stern action should be taken against those involved in anti-government movements to prevent them from jeopardising government efforts in national development, he said.
"While our country practises democracy and anyone has the right to support any candidate they like in the general election, government employees should not abuse their position or become agents of the opposition to topple the Government," Zein Isma said.
He said Umno Youth would help the Government handle the problem and was against undergraduates being made tools by certain groups with narrow political thinking.
On the upgrading of Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM) to a university, he said the move was appropriate and timely and that the university should be given time to implement educational plans.
He also welcomed the proposal to create a medical faculty at Universiti Teknologi Mara as this would help to increase the number of medical experts in the country.
The upgrading of ITM to a university was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday when he attended the ITM Alumni Premier Gathering at Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam.--Bernama