25.05.

2010

To: UKM and Malaysian authority

Withdraw University & University College Act 1971 (UUCA) Charge on UKM Students:
Muhammad Hilman bin Idham, Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin, Azlin Shafina Mohamad
Adzha & Woon King Chai

Since May 13, 2010, in Malaysia, four students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), to
observe and study the Hulu Selangor by-election for academic purposes, have been charged under
the UUCA 1971 for allegedly expressing support or sympathy towards political parties, without any
prior investigations or any prove of evidence by any authority.

The freedom of thought and expression, and the right to participate in politics are internationally
guaranteed and respected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 and Article 21,
for that people are and should be the rightful basis of the authority of government. Moreover, in the
Federal Constitution of Malaysia, Article 19, the right to political participation is specifically
guaranteed for every citizens above the age of 21.

The UUCA, Section 15(5)(a), which prohibits students from participating or expressing sympathy
or support for any political parties, is a direct violation to the international norm and the very
constitution of Malaysia.

We, the Young Progressives Southeast Asia (YPSEA), who are in- school and community based
organizations, youth wings of democratic political parties, non-government and community-based
organizations and social movements, representing the Young People of ASEAN Member States of
Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Timor Leste, strongly condemn the
action of the UKM authority that violated and infringed the basic democratic human rights of the
young people, and call the UKM authority to withdraw the charge immediately. This is to promote
and protect the academic and political freedom of the student and the very fundamental democratic
human rights that every women and men shall enjoy. Young people should be seen as equal citizens
with active roles in the society.

Statements from YPSEA members in Malaysia are also attached, for further evidence and support.

For democracy and empowerment,

YPSEA – Cambodia Groups:

Member
Khmer Youth Association (KYA)
People’s Center for Development and Peace (PDP Center)

YPSEA – Indonesia Groups:

Members
Pergerakan Indonesia (Indonesia Movement);
Partai Perserikatan Rakyat (PPR) Youth Wing;
Uni Sosial Demokrat (Unisosdem);
Observers
PRD (People’s Democratic Party) Youth
National Student League for Democracy (LMND)
Dialogue Partners
MINIMA Media Center for Public Education (MINIMA); The RIDEP Institute; SEKAR

YPSEA - Malaysia Groups:

Members
Democratic Action Party-Socialist Youth (DAPSY);
Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA);
Progressive and Democratic Youth Movement (ProDem)

YPSEA – Thailand Groups:

Members
Student Federation of Thailand (SFT);
Young People for Democracy (YPD) Movement

YPSEA – Philippine Groups:

Members
Akbayan Youth; First-Time Voters (FTV) Youth Network;
BISIG (Union of Filipino Socialists) Youth;
Movement for the Advancement of Student Power (MASP);
Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP);
National Alliance of Community-based Young People (Alyansa);
Dialogue Partners
Young progressives of De La Salle University,
Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, Philippine Normal University,
University of the Philippines and other universities

YPSEA – East Timor Groups:

Member:
Organisasi Joventudy Studante Das Timor Leste (OJETIL)-Youth
Observer:
East Timor Student Solidarity Council (ETSSC)

YPSEA – Burma Groups:

Observer:
Students and Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB)
Myanmar Egress