KUALA LUMPUR, 18 JAN: Education is the right of every citizen, just like shelter and food, and I am also not a hero to be exalted because I believe that there are many more fighters carrying out various efforts, better than me, for the sake of the people, said KS Bawani.
Bawani who is now in her second year of law degree at University Utara Malaysia (UUM) received various support from all walks of life for her courage in voicing the idea of free education in a forum.
The footage from the forum saw how Bawani’s argument was brought to a halt by the actions of the forum moderator, Sharifah Zohra Jabeen Syed Shah Miskin who took away the microphone which was in front of Bawani as she was delivering her arguments.
Following the incident, she is now a household name and has become an icon of university students who are bold in voicing their views that are clearly against government policies.
“Do not look at me as though I am in the sky because I am only a short human who is voicing in demand for justice for all.
“I am confident that Malaysia is able to provide free education like those exercised in countries like Cuba, Brazil, Argentina which have less national income than Malaysia.
“Education is not a business, commodity or a good that can be bought and sold, it is the right of every human being,” said Bawani.
Bawani, who also holds a Bachelor of Psychology from the National University of Malaysia (UKM) attended a press conference today organised by the organisation that she herself is a coordinator at, Coalition to Demand for Free Education (GMPP) at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here, this morning.
According to her, students should be freed from the shackles of leaders or the government to ensure the rights of students in expressing their views and new ideas for the sake of the country’s development as enshrined in the National Constitution.
“It needs to be implemented in our daily life and not just on paper.
“The university should also be neutral and independent without being blanketed by efforts to ‘brainwash’ certain quarters.
“Let students assess themselves what is good, and what is bad,” said Bawani.
At 28 years old, Bawani is consistent in her fight and is even active in non-governmental organisation (NGO) movements in fighting for the rights of the people since she was in her teens.
Since being involved in NGOs such as the Communication Development Centre (CDC); the main wing of the Socialist Party of Malaysia at the age of 19, Bawani has actively been giving extra classes for free at estates and villages.
