[Reprint] Dilema Aku dan PTPTN

Aku bekas pelajar Multimedia University (MMU) dan ini kisah benar.

MMU universiti swasta. Belanja belajar mahal. Kursus dan program yang disediakan susah belaka. Tapi, aku tak aware semua tu. Umur aku baru 18 tahun. Bila surat tawaran sampai, keputusan tepat mesti dibuat dengan cepat dan tangkas. Bila difikirkan kembali, cepat dan tangkas tu memang, tapi tepat tu aku kurang pasti.

Segalanya bermula saat aku daftar dengan MMU. Aku hutang dengan PTPTN RM80,000.00. Sebab aku extend belajar setahun setengah, aku hutang pula dengan MMU RM17,000.00. Lain kali aku cerita kenapa aku extend.

Naik bukit, turun bukit, masuk hutan, keluar hutan, akhirnya aku graduate.

Sebab aku masih berhutang dengan MMU, masa aku convo, aku naik pentas dapat kotak kosong je. Sampai sekarang MMU masih 'pegang' scroll aku. Nasib baik MMU, kalau Along, dah lama tangan aku kena kerat.

Dulu aku ada motor cabuk buat modal untuk pergi kelas dan jalan-jalan keliling Melaka.
Tapi alhamdulillah sekarang aku dah bekerja.
Dapat kerja yang elok.
Gaji boleh tahan.
Dah boleh makan mewah.
Dah boleh pergi melancong.
Dah berkereta.
Dah berpasangan.

Tapi hutang apa cerita?

Aku bayar hutang MMU bulan-bulan ikut kadar kemampuan aku. Sebab? Aku nak scroll aku. Lagipun hutang MMU tiada paksaan, tiada cengkeram, tiada bunga dan seangkatan.

PTPTN lain pula cerita.

PTPTN aku bayar RM50.00 sebulan supaya tak kena saman. Dia boleh saman babe. Tapi lima puluh sebulan kalu, sampai bila nak langsai? Lepas 133 tahun habislah kot. Cucu aku boleh tolong sambung bayar nanti. Itu kalau kira guna kalkulator kita, tapi kalau guna formula PTPTN, hutang aku boleh bertambah sampai berkoyan-koyan. Tak habis-habis dia punya hutang. Ajaib. Ceti pun kalah. Along pun tak berani buat bisnes macam ni.

Inilah sebab-musabab yang menjadi punca orang marah.

PTPTN ni ada kos pentadbiran. Apa yang ditadbir mereka, aku kurang pasti. Kalau nak cerita pasal kepincangan servis PTPTN ni boleh buka post baru. Berjela-jela senarai dia. Jadi, caj 3% yang dikenakan sebagai kos pentadbiran ni, pada aku memang tak patut dan kejam.

Engkau orang mesti hairan, setakat tiga peratus pun orang nak kecoh. Bikin malu saja. Meh aku terang ajaib ke tak ajaib PTPTN ni. Lapan puluh ribu kalau dicaj tiga peratus setahun, jummlahnya dua ribu empat ratus. Kalau dua ribu empat ratus dibahagi dengan dua belas, sebulan dua ratus. Aku bayar lima puluh sebulan bersamaan enam ratus setahun. Caj dua ribu empat ratus; bayar enam ratus; baki caj seribu lapan ratus.

Jadinya, hutang aku daripada lapan puluh ribu akan meningkat tahun ke tahun sebab aku bayar kurang daripada kos pentadbiran.

Magis kan?

Orang pinjam duit nak buat belajar. Nak majukan negara. Nak penuhi tanggungjawab. Nak dapat kerja bagus-bagus. Nak sara mak ayah. Belajar itu kan satu ibadat. Tapi dia buat untung. Bikin semua orang rungut dan tensi.

Tapi aku selamba. Aku ada satu loophole.

Aku tandatangan perjanjian (agreement) berdarah dengan PTPTN ni, tahun 2000. Perjanjian orang lain yang sebelum-sebelum atau selepas-selepas, aku tak tahu. Ikut perjanjian, kalau aku mati, hutang aku kira halal. Penjamin aku pun ikut lepas sekali. Jadinya pergi jahanam sama itu PTPTN sebab kalu aku fikir banyak-banyak boleh naik gila kepala otak.


NOTA PANGLIPURLARA:
Usul kerajaan baru-baru ini hendak menurunkan kos pentadbiran sebanyak 50% sangat dinanti-nanti. Akan aku ikuti sandiwara semasa kerajaan melalui surat khabar tidak lama lagi. Siapa yang jadi hero, siapa yang jadi crook; atau hanya sembang kosong politik saja?

http://www.kapasitor.net/community/post/1365

[Reprint] Choo Kok Wei: Another student victimised by abuse of UUCA

Choo Kok Wei: Another student victimised by abuse of UUCA

Posted on February 23rd, 2009 by Nathaniel Tan

Yet another student to be charged under the UUCA >:( He wasn’t trying to topple the government. All he was doing was trying to get lower bus fares for students already facing a tough time :(

When will these people get it? As long as you have repressed and oppressed universities, you can forget about ever having world class university graduates.

The ability to inquire freely is the first and foremost hallmark of any university worthy of the name.

Below are details from DEMA, including a letter you can send.

Choo Kok Wei, a final semester student from University Utara Malaysia (UUM) has been charged by university authority because he has planned a protest in online media and released press statement regarding bus fare issue in UUM. He was asked to attend disciplinary proceeding on 25/2 (Wednesday), 9.25am at Bilik Mesyuarat Sri Delima, Tingkat 5, Bangunan Canselori.

We strongly feel that the UUCA charge should be withdrawn because:

a) Choo Kok Wei has done nothing wrong. He was trying to help the students to voice out their unsatisfaction towards the policy and showed it to the authority.

b) Freedom of expression should be preserved in a democratic campus as stated in Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 10 of Federal Constitution in Malaysia.

c) Choo Kok Wei has shown a role model by concerning in campus policy and tried to gather the opinions of students to help improve the university.

Background of the incident:

On 3/1/09, a bus company in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) named Unic Symbol Business Sdn. Bhd. had released a notice about the upgrading of E-bus System and increment in bus fare starting from 17/01/09. Under the new system, two plans will be introduced:

1. RM90 plan: Unlimited times of bus riding for the whole semester. But a matric card can only be used once in 15 minutes to avoid students from sharing the same matric card.
2. RM22 plan: Contains 40 points, which means 40 bus rides. This is equal to RM0.55 per ride (one way). In this way, the bus fare has increased 37.5%, from RM0.40 to RM0.55 per ride (one way).
3. The remaining credits for both plans cannot be transferred to the next semester.

The news spread fast and students were unhappy with the changes made.

On 12/1/09, Choo Kok Wei and friends had set up an online petition specifically for UUM students at www.petitiononline.com/20090112/petition.html to gather students’ support as a protest towards the bus issue. So far 509 signatures had been collected.

On 19/1/09, Choo Kok Wei and friends have met with Deputy Vice Chancellor and he has promised to fulfill some of their demands. Deputy Vice Chancellor has agreed to reduce the bus fare to RM0.40 but university will review the rate from time to time. Remaining of the credits can be brought forward to the next semester. Deputy Vice Chancellor also ensured that voices of students will be taken into consideration in the future. But he refused to open the contract with UNIC to the public because it is confidential.

A month later, on 19/2/09, Choo received a letter from the Disciplinary Board of UUM, charging him for planning a protest in online media and released press statement regarding bus fare issue in UUM.

Date	Incident
03/01/09	A bus company in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) named Unic Symbol Business Sdn. Bhd. had released a notice about the upgrading of E-bus System and increment in bus fare starting on 17/01/09. Under the new system, two plans will be introduced: RM90 plan: Unlimited times of bus riding for the whole semester. But matric card can only be used once in 15 minutes to avoid students from sharing a matric card. RM22 plan: Contains 40 points, which means 40 bus rides. This is equal to RM0.55 per ride (one way). In this way, the bus fare has increased 37.5%, from RM0.40 to RM0.55 per ride (one way). Remaining credits for both plans cannot be transferred to the next semester. The news spread fast and students were unhappy with the changes made.
12/01/09	Choo Kok Wei and friends had set up an online petition specifically for UUM students at www.petitiononline.com/20090112/petition.html to gather students’ support as a protest towards the bus issue. Initially it was planned to be held for five days and then a memorandum will be sent to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Dr. Nordin Kardi, Ph.D. 2pm Within few hours, the number of signature had reached 200. 3pm Kok Wei received call from Security Department (UK) during lecture, so he didn’t answer it. 5pm The online petition website had been blocked by UUM but Kok Wei and friends were able to find ways to access to it later and spread it to the students.
13/01/09	8.30am UK officer Selvaraju a/l Subramanian (Investigation Department) called Kok Wei and wanted Kok Wei to go to UK immediately. 11am Selvaraju called Kok Wei again during his assignment discussion. Kok Wei wasn’t able to make it and Selvaraju threatened Kok Wei that he would go to Kok Wei’s room. 6.30pm UK sent an official letter to Kok Wei, asking him to go to UK office for discussion on the next morning. Immediately, Kok Wei replied UK that he would meet UK on 17/01/09 after meeting with Deputy Vice Chancellor.
14/01/09	8.10am Selvaraju called Kok Wei, saying that he couldn’t accept Kok Wei’s request to postpone the meeting. He wanted Kok Wei to go to UK immediately. Again, Selvaraju threatened that he will write a letter to Deputy Vice Chancellor so that Kok Wei will be kicked out from hostel.
15/01/09	Kok Wei resent appointment letter to Deputy Vice Chancellor to postpone the meeting to 19/01 because 17/01 was public holiday.
17/01/09	12.30pm Kok Wei went UK to meet Selvaraju as promised in the replied letter. Kok Wei admitted that he set up the online petition. During the interrogation, many irrelevant questions were asked. 5pm Interrogation went on for 4 and a half hours and finished at 5pm.
19/01/09	The number of signature for the online petition had reached 500. 11.35pm Kok Wei and friends met with Deputy Vice Chancellor and handed in a memorandum. Four demands have been raised: Maintain the bus fare at RM0.40 per point or reduce it to a rate lower than RM0.55 per point. The remaining credit can be brought forward to the next semester. University has to be transparency in the contract with UNIC and also other contracts in the future, so that students are able to supervise it. Students are involved in any decision making that are concerning the benefits of the students. Deputy Vice Chancellor has agreed to reduce the bus fare to RM0.40 but university will review the rate from time to time. Remaining of the credits can be brought forward to the next semester. Deputy Vice Chancellor also ensured that voices of students will be taken into consideration in the future. But he refused to open the contract with UNIC to the public because it is confidential.
19/02/09	At Night Choo received a letter from the Disciplinary Board of UUM, charging him for “planning a protest in online media and released press statement regarding bus fare issue in UUM”. He was asked to attend disciplinary proceeding on 25/2 (Wednesday), 9.25am at Bilik Mesyuarat Sri Delima, Tingkat 5, Bangunan Canselori.
22/02/09	8.30am Kok Wei sent a letter asking for postpone, but has been rejected by the secretary of UUM Disciplinary Board without reading at the letter. Kok Wei wasn’t able to meet the Deputy Vice Chancellor because he is not in the office.

Democracy in UUM

Students as one of the stakeholders of a university should be given opportunity to monitor every contract or affairs that are related to the campus and especially to the students. The bus fare issue in UUM will definitely affect the students because they are the ones who are using the service and they need to pay for it. Thus, any changes in the service should involve students’ opinion and thoughts so that the policy will do good to the students.

In this case, Choo Kok Wei was trying to uphold the principles of campus democracy by raising the issue amongst the students so that they have a platform to voice out their opinion. 509 signatures of UUM students have been collected in a short period has shown that students are unsatisfied with the change in bus service. The authority should therefore take into account the students’ consideration, not charging Choo Kok Wei to create fear among the students as a warning to them.

All contracts and trading should be transparency so that everyone can monitor it. Students should be encouraged to show concern about the university policy and give their opinion freely. The charging of Choo Kok Wei is a retrogression of democracy in UUM.

Demands

Hence, DEMA calls upon authority of UUM to withdraw disciplinary charge from Choo Kok Wei immediately. DEMA also urges the authority of UUM to open the contract between UUM and UNIC to the public to show that there is no conflict of interest in this issue.

What Can You Do?

1. Fax the sample letter below to UUM authority immediately.

Pejabat Naib Canselor:

No. Fax: 04-9283180

2. Call UUM authority to ask about the case and protest towards the UUCA charge on Choo Kok Wei.

Pejabat HEP:

Tel: 04-9284070/3224

Pejabat Naib Canselor:

Tel: 04-9283001

Released by,

Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)

Tan Sze Ming (UUM Coordinator)

012-4046310

sze_min310@hotmail.com

Sample Letter

Please state your protest by sending a letter to the Vice Chancellor of University Utara Malaysia (UUM).

To:

Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dr. Nordin Kardi, Ph.D
Vice Chancellor

Pejabat NC,

Bagunan Canselori
Universiti Utara Malaysia

06010, UUM Sintok

Kedah Darul Aman.

Tel: 04-9283001

No. Fax: 04-9283180

Withdraw Disciplinary Charge on Choo Kok Wei Immediately

We/I from ______________________, oppose the action of UUM authority for charging a final semester student, Choo Kok Wei, for practising his rights as student and a Malaysia citizen, to set up an online petition to gather students’ voices on the UUM bus fare issue.

2. We/I strongly feel that the disciplinary charge should be withdrawn because:

1. Choo Kok Wei has done nothing wrong. He was trying to help the students to voice out their unsatisfaction towards the policy and showed it to the authority.

2. Freedom of speech should be preserved in a democratic campus as stated in Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 10 of Federal Constitution in Malaysia.

3. Choo Kok Wei has shown a role model by concerning in campus policy and tried to gather the opinions of students to help improve the university.

3. Students as one of the stakeholders of a university should be given opportunity to monitor every contract or affairs that are related to the campus and especially to the students. Thus, any changes in the service should involve students’ opinion and thoughts so that the policy will do good to the students. Students should be encouraged to show concern about the university policy and give their opinion freely. The charging of Choo Kok Wei is a retrogression of democracy in UUM.

4. We/I urge that UUM authority:

a) to withdraw disciplinary charge from Choo Kok Wei immediately.

b) to open the contract between UUM and UNIC to the public to show that there is no conflict of interest in this issue.

c) to preserve the freedom of expression of the students as stated in Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 10 of Federal Constitution in Malaysia, and uphold campus democracy.

Yours faithfully,

______________

( )

CC:

Y.B. DATO’ SERI MOHAMED KHALED BIN NORDIN

Menteri Pengajian Tinggi,
Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi,
Aras 7, Blok E3, Parcel E,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62505 PUTRAJAYA.

Tel : +603-8883 5010

Faks : +603-8889 1952

Emel : menteri@mohe.gov.my

Siapa boleh mempertahankan hak-hak orang Melayu?

Soalan-soalan yang paling penting di Malaysia:

Siapakah boleh mempertahankan hak-hak orang Melayu?
UMNO? Sultan?

Siapakah boleh mempertahankan hak-hak orang Cina?
MCA? GERAKAN?

Siapakah boleh mempertahankan hak-hak orang India?
MIC? PPP?

Siapakah boleh mempertahankan hak-hak orang Kadazan-Dusun?
PBS?

Siapakah boleh mempertahankan hak-hak orang Dayak?
PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu)?

Bukan! Semua jawapan di atas adalah salah!
Jawapan sebenarnya ialah rakyat sendiri! Hanya rakyat sendiri boleh membebaskan sendiri!
Hanya rakyat sendiri boleh mempertahankan hak-hak sendiri!

Pemimpin-peminpin parti politik (terutamanya pentadbir) adalah golongan atasan. Mereka mempunyai syarikat sendiri. Kekayaan dan sumber negara kita adalah di dalam tangan mereka. Merekalah yang mencipta pelbagai kata-kata tipu bagi mencapai matlamat mereka. Mereka adalah tidak dapat tahu kesusahan hidup rakyat jelata.

Miskin dan kesusahan adalah rasa yang sama bagi semua orang (rakyat), tidak kira apajua warna kulit atau agama.

Kita rakyat sendiri perlu mempertahankan hak-hak asasi manusia sendiri. Percayalah kepada semua rakyat. Rasa "Miskin dan kesusahan" adalah sama bagi Melayu, Cina, India, Kadazan, Dayak......

Marilah bersatu, semua rakyat!

Apakah itu hak-hak bagi semua orang?
Tiada orang suka hidup dalam ketakutan.
Tiada orang suka hudup dalam kesusahan.
Tiada orang suka hidup tanpa bersuara.
Tiada orang suka hak kepercayaannya disekat.

Pada lazimnya, hak asasi manusia ialah:
1. kebebasan daripada ketakutan
2. kebebasan daripada kemahuan
3. kebebasan bersuara
4. kebebasan kepercayaan.

http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hak_asasi_manusia