KOTA KINABALU, Nov 12 — University Malaysia Sabah yesterday insisted it always allowed students to hold their annual Christmas party on campus, claiming allegations it restricted previous years’ events to outside the university grounds to be a simple misunderstanding.
Vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Mohd Harun Abdullah confirmed the approval for this year’s party while denying that UMS has ever prevented students from holding activities within its compound.
The confirmation was also conveyed earlier to Malay Mail Online by UMS deputy vice chancellor in charge of student affairs Dr Ismail Ali.
“Every year we have approved it, but outside the university, because it is a big event. Now they would like to have it inside, so OK,” Dr Ismail Ali wrote in a text message to Malay Mail Online.
In a statement, Mohd Harun Abdullah said that the decision to have the Christmas party off campus in previous years was due to space and parking constraints at UMS.
“We have never prevented any staff or students from organising an event on campus. We encourage events that can strengthen cultures and traditions of our students that will not only add character but build morals among the different races and religions,” he said.
Saying that it has provided an allocation for the event, the vice-chancellor explained that UMS gave the organisers the choice to hold it outside of the university as this would allow a bigger crowd to attend than what the campus could accommodate.
Mohd Harun also said that any student event will get university approval as long as it fulfils the requirements and conditions.
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) acting president Datuk Madius Tangau said, however, that the change of heart came after Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap contacted the university and intervened for the application to be approved.
“I’m happy with the outcome. I’m glad that after two years of them painstakingly coming up with funds, sponsors and arranging for it to be held off campus, they can finally have their event in their home in Sabah,” said Tangau.
He said Upko has never supported any discriminatory policies and hopes that there will be no repeats of the incident at any institutions of higher learning in the country.
Yesterday, Malay Mail Online reported of allegations raised by Tangau and students that UMS would not approve the annual Christmas party unless it was held outside of the campus.
Dr Ismail told the Malay Mail Online yesterday that they received the application but said they usually encouraged students to hold the parties off campus.
According to Tangau in a statement yesterday, Christian groups in the university have been having their annual Christmas celebration in a nearby hotel for the past two years and were planning another this year’s event at a nearby auditorium after their bid to hold it on campus was not approved.
“They were told to change the venue to get approval. Meanwhile, other events such as Deepavali and Pesta Tang Lung, Aidilfitri and Tadau Kaamatan was celebrated on a big scale,” he said.
Yesterday, university lecturer Dr Paul Porodong lauded the approval, saying it was a step in the right direction for UMS.
“Maybe it was a misunderstanding or not properly thought out before, but this shows that the university has the right policies and is open to all races and religions. It is only fitting that a higher institution of learning in Sabah, the epitome of harmonious multicultural society practice this kind of tolerance,” he said.
A student organiser of the event said that she felt the move was positive as it would be less of a burden for the organising committee.
“Previously, we have to organise so much more to get it done away from campus, rental of the location, transport for the students, transport to and from for the organisers. It really is better and more convenient to have it on campus where a lot of us live and are familiar with,” she said.
“This is awesome news. This is my last year at the university and I’m so glad that I will be able to celebrate Christmas on campus finally,” said another third year student.
However, it has yet to be decided whether the organisers will change the event venue, as they have already booked space at the Yayasan Sabah auditorium some 10 minutes away and printed tickets.
Sabah PKR leader Darrell Leiking yesterday said he was incensed when he first heard of the rejection and questioned the university’s integrity at the handling of the situation.
“It is a university, for goodness sake, and it should not be the extension of the bigots and extremists who are out to ruin the progressive and tolerant society that a university should churn out world class students for world to embrace.
“The about-turn is good news but the fact that it was rejected showed the inherent attribute that some of them had,” he said when contacted by the Malay Mail Online.
