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PETALING JAYA: Initially shocked by the landmark decision by the Court of Appeal, the four graduates who challenged the Uni­versities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) now hope there will be no appeal made by the other party.

“We are really excited and happy with the ruling but we hope the Government or Universiti Kebang­saan Malaysia (UKM) will not appeal but instead repeal the Act,” said Woon King Chai, who sought a court declaration that Section 15(5)(a) of UUCA was unconstitutional together with three others from UKM.

He is the special officer to MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu.

Woon said the four of them were in shock over the decision “which caught so many people off guard”.

The students were arrested by police during the Hulu Selangor by-election in April last year.

They faced disciplinary proceedings initiated by UKM on July 4 but were found not guilty.

The students then sought a court declaration that Section 15(5)(a) was unconstitutional.

The students argued that Article 119 of the Federal Constitution specifically states that every citizen above the age of 21 is qualified to vote, which is a form of expression and participation in politics.

Muhammad Hilman Idham said the court decision showed the struggle of university students was finally getting serious recognition.

“The decision shows it is time the younger generation are allowed the freedom to make choices affecting their future,” he said.

Muhammad Hilman said although the ruling was a good start, it was still their stand that the Act should be abolished.

We are most pleased and contented by the decision of the Court of Appeal in declaring Section 15(5)(a) of the University & University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) unconstitutional.

We consider the decision to be one which has held steadfast to the doctrine of separation of powers in that the Judiciary, an independent branch of government, stands responsible for ensuring that all legislative and executive actions do not violate the liberties guaranteed to all Malaysians under the Federal Constitution.

Separation of powers, as we have come to learn and appreciate, is the cornerstone of Malaysia’s constitutional framework – as envisaged by our founding fathers and to be upheld by the generations to come.

The Court of Appeal’s decision has etched that all students in Malaysia shall now have the freedom to express support and sympathy for the causes, ideologies and policies promoted by political parties which are considered good for the well-being of the people of Malaysia.

And conversely to show opposition to views and ideas of political parties which are divisive and repugnant to the peace and harmony that Malaysians have cultivated for themselves for the past five decades.

Moving on, the future of this country now rests on the shoulders of the future generation of students in this country. We hold it to be evident that the right of students to express support, sympathy or opposition is a step forward in the moulding of respectable, critical and progressive young men and women who would take this nation to great heights in the years to come; to courageously seek the truth, to uphold justice and to pursue liberty and freedom for all regardless of race, religion or class.

They will now have the opportunity to equip themselves to make informed decisions and to learn from these decisions that they will need to make with this new found freedom, after having it kept away for the past four decades, to contribute back to the society around them.

To the Legislators of Malaysia, we urge them to strictly adhere to the doctrine of separation of powers and the rule of law. We call on them to respect the Court’s decision and to repeal section 15(5)(a) of the UUCA as soon as possible, in best interest of the youth and the future generations of this country.

Kami berempat menerima keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan pada 31 Oktober 2011 dalam mengisytiharkan Seksyen 15(5)(a) Akta Universiti & Kolej Universiti 1971 (AUKU) sebagai bercanggah dengan perlembagaan dengan hati yang terbuka dan penuh harapan.

Kami telah melihat keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan bawah badan Kehakiman sebagai satu keputusan yang berpegang teguh kepada doktrin pengasingan kuasa, di mana badan Kehakiman telah dipertanggungjawabkan untuk memastikan agar tiada tindakan badan Legislatif dan Eksekutif yang mencabul kebebasan dan hak asasi manusia yang telah dijamin kepada semua rakyat Malaysia bawah Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan didukung oleh setiap generasi sejak kemerdekaan lebih daripada 50 tahun yang lalu.

Keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan telah memberi ruang kepada semua mahasiswa dan mahasiswi di Malaysia untuk bebas menyatakan sokongan atau simpati mereka terhadap dasar-dasar, polisi dan ideologi yang bermanfaat untuk pembangunan negara dan kesejahteraan rakyat Malaysia.

Dan sebaliknya, ia juga memberi ruang kepada mahasiswa dan mahasiswi untuk menyatakan bangkangan terhadap apa-apa pendapat serta idea-idea parti politik yang memecahbelahkan masyarakat serta menggugat keamanan dan kesejahteraan rakyat Malaysia.

Masa depan negara kini terletak di atas bahu generasi mahasiswa yang akan datang dan kami yakin bahawa fenomena sedemikian akan memberi ruang serta kebebasan kepada penyataan sokongan, simpati atau bangkangan terhadap pelbagai idea-idea politik, dan harus dilihat sebagai satu langkah yang sihat ke arah pembangunan negara.

Bagi setiap anggota badan Legislatif di Malaysia, kami ingin menggesa agar mereka menghormati doktrin pengasingan kuasa dan kedaulatan undang-undang. Kami meminta supaya mereka terus menghormati keputusan badan Kehakiman dan seterusnya memansuhkan Seksyen 15(5)(a) AUKU supaya pembangunan belia dan masa depan negara dapat dipelihara.