The right to free education is a basic, fundamental, human right that should be accorded to the citizens

Speech by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at “ Free Education Is A People’s Right “ Forum held at Dewan Katturaja, Paya Besar on Saturday, February 16, 2013

The right to free education is a basic, fundamental, human right that should be accorded to the citizens

Let me first of all congratulate Ms Bawani for her performance at the now famous Listen Listen  Listen event held in December last year at UUM.! Her courage shows that Malaysian students and youths   are very much aware of and concerned about the issues affecting them and. 

She has also proven that Malaysian students are prepared to speak up their minds and will not be brain washed or bullied. 

Since becoming the nation’s 6^th Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib has talked much about the need for reforms. Transformation is also a word he has talked much about.

It cannot be denied that he has introduced some changes in laws, including making changes to allow student participation in politics, but he has done just too little. 

There is no doubt that the Listen Listen Listen event was a brain washing forum. 

While the University has denied that it has anything to do with the event, the fact that such an event could be held in  a university shows that there is still a long way to go as far as reformation and transformation of the nation’s higher educational institution is concerned. 

Can we ever imagine such kind of event taking place in any overseas university worth its salt? 

The answer is absolutely no.

Free university education has recently become a hot topic as a result of Pakatan Rakyat’s policy position that education should be free. 

We in PR believe that the right to free education is a basic, fundamental, human right that should be accorded to the citizens. 

BN government has taken an opposing stand , claiming that the nation cannot afford free university education and either the people will have to pay more taxes or the country can go bankrupt. 

Tell us which nation in the world has gone bankrupt because of allowing its people free university education? 

BN does not support free university education not only because it is not committed to the principle that free education is   a basic and fundamental right of the people , it is also not good at managing the country’s economy and finances. 

Let me assure  you when Pakatan Rakyat comes to power and implements free university education policy,  not only the nation will not go bankrupt , there will not be any need to increase income tax because of this policy

When people are politically informed due to information available on the internet as well politically awakened due to better understanding of their rights and ability to make a difference, brainwashing will no longer work. 

BN leaders can continue to think that students can be brainwashed, just like they think that cash handouts can win them votes, but the fact is they will face disappointment and ultimately defeat.