Category: University

The student, student politics and politics

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a forum on “The student, student politics and politics” organised by the University of Malaya Law Society on Tuesday, 5th November 1973 at 8 p.m.

The student, student politics and politics

Last month, the Thai students gave the world another demonstration of the ability of student power to bring about changes in society, and in this case, it was to bring down the corrupt and inept government of Thanom Kittikachorn.

Seven years ago, the Indonesian students led by KAMI played a major role in toppling the Sukarno regime. There are many other such examples of students-induced changes in other parts of Asia and the world.

It must be this awareness and realisation of the potential power of student idealism to challenge and expose the forces of corruption, injustice and reaction which motivated our Alliance government to enact a particularly obnoxious Act in the form of Universities and Colleges Act prohibiting university students from any form of political participation.

This is all the more unacceptable when we note that the government-appointed committee into the racial polarization and campus life of the students of the University of Malaya reported in 1970 that there was no reason to deny the right of political participation to the university students. Continue reading The student, student politics and politics

DAP calls for immediate government recognition of Nantah and Formosan degrees and qualifications without any more delay

DAP calls for immediate government recognition of Nantah and Formosan degrees and qualifications without any more delay

The ministry of Education announced two days ago government recognition of degrees of eight universities in Indonesia.

What many people cannot understand is why the government has taken so long to decide on the question of recognition of degrees and qualifications of Nantah and Formosan universities. Continue reading DAP calls for immediate government recognition of Nantah and Formosan degrees and qualifications without any more delay

Merdeka University

Adjournment Speech by DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, in the Dewan Ra’ayat on Friday, 4th February 1972

Merdeka University

In 1968, there were proposals to establish two new universities, namely the National University and the Merdeka University. The National University is now in existence. The Merdeka University, however, has run into stormy waters.

The Merdeka University was mooted by Chinese educationists and educational bodies to provide university educational opportunities for Chinese secondary school leavers. At present, these Malaysian students had to go overseas, either to Nanyang University in Singapore or the Taiwan universities for further education. Continue reading Merdeka University

Recognition of Nanyang and Formosan University degrees and qualifications by government

Adjournment Speech by DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the Dewan Ra’ayat on Wednesday, 8th December 1971

Recognition of Nanyang and Formosan University degrees and qualifications by government

Malaysia suffers from an acute shortage of qualified manpower. We are short of teachers, doctors, engineers, agricultural specialists, technicians and administrators.

The First Malaysia Plan in 1965 gave some interesting data. It said that in 1965, 30 per cent of jobs in the private sector which require more than a secondary education are either vacant or filled by non-Malaysians as no qualified Malaysians are available to fill them. In the public services, recruitment succeeded in filling only 70% of the 3,500 vacancies in government departments. Continue reading Recognition of Nanyang and Formosan University degrees and qualifications by government

Nantah and Formosan qualifications, the Merdeka University and the MCA College

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, to members and supporters in Tangkak, Johore, on Thursday, September 19, 1968 at 8 p.m.

Nantah and Formosan qualifications, the Merdeka University and the MCA College.

During the 1964 general elections campaign, an Alliance Minister solemnly pledged that the government would inquire into the standards of Nanyang University to see if it could be accorded recognition after the general elections.

More than four years have passed, and the next general elections is approaching. But the Nantah qualifications, and the Formosan qualifications, have still to be considered by any government committee for recognition. Continue reading Nantah and Formosan qualifications, the Merdeka University and the MCA College

Razak’s “new breed of Malaysians”

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, to the Segamat DAP Branch on Wednesday, September 11, 1968 at 7.30 p.m.

Razak’s “new breed of Malaysians”

In his Merdeka Day message, the Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Rahman, said that 11 years of Alliance rule have resulted in a “new breed of Malaysians who identify themselves as Malaysians first and as Chinese, Malaya or Indians second.”

How comforting and reassuring this is if what Tun Abdul Razak said is true, because we are then breaking down the racial barriers and prejudices which divide Malaysians from Malaysians. Continue reading Razak’s “new breed of Malaysians”

Call on the government to withdraw the $10 million

The Organising Secretary of the DAP, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today called on the government to withdraw the $10 million it has pledged to contribute to the MCA College, and contribute to the Merdeka University proposal instead.

In an interview with the Sin Chew Jit Poh, Mr. Lim said that it was wrong and improper for the government to make use of the public funds for a political project intended purely to win back votes for the MCA in the next elections.

Mr. Lim pointed out that none other than the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Inche Senu bin Abdul Rahman, had admitted publicly, at a meeting of UMNO in Kedah recently, that the MCA College was meant to win votes for the MCA. Continue reading Call on the government to withdraw the $10 million

MCA College

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary , Mr Lim Kit Siang, at the Setapak Public Rally on Sunday, July 28 at 8p.m.

The MCA Secretary-General, Mr Kam Woon Wah, declared yesterday that the MCA College is not a “multi–lingual” college.

This is a contradiction of statements by the Minister of Local Government and Housing and Chairman of MCA Working Team on Higher Education Planning Committee, Mr Khaw Khai Boh, and the MCA Youth Leader, Mr Lee San Choon. Continue reading MCA College

The MCA’s MARA-types feeder college

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr Lim Kit Siang, to the Johore DAP State Committee at Kluang , Johore on Saturday, July 20 at 4 p.m. at a meeting to review party expansion in the state and election preparations:

The Chairman of MCA Working Team on Higher Education Planning, Mr. Khaw Khai Boh, called a press conference last Sunday to announce MCA plans for a $20million MARA-type feeder college for Chinese school leavers.

At the same press conference was the Minister of Education, Inche Khir bin Johari, who immediately announced the Alliance Government’s blessing for the MCA project and recognition of its qualifications. Continue reading The MCA’s MARA-types feeder college

Challenge to the MCA

Talk by DAP Organising Secretary Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a public meeting at the Balai Ra’ayat at Kampong Coldstream organised by the Tapah DAP Branch on Saturday, 29th June 1968 at 8 p.m.

For the first time in the history of our country, there is a national political movement which stands for cultural democracy for the people of Malaysia. This is the Democratic Action Party.

By cultural democracy, we mean the full and free flowering and growth of all cultures and languages in Malaysia. We believe Malaysian culture should come about through the free and equal interaction and interchange of the various cultural streams in the country, and not through the imposition of one culture over the others. Continue reading Challenge to the MCA