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Mahathir Sends Another Warning to Protesting Students
KUALA LAMPUR, July15 (IslamOnline & News Agencies)- Malaysian Prime Minster, Mahathir Mohammad, plans to start his third decade of being the country's premier with a crackdown on protesting students.
In his second warning this week, Mahathir notified Malaysian students who take part in anti-government protests that they will face expulsion.
Quoted by Malaysia's Sunday newspapers and Bernama News agency, Mahathir said that students who engage in activities that are unrelated to their studies would be sacked.
"Public funds should not be wasted on those who do not utilize them as they should be," he said. In an earlier speech the premier warned students not to stage street demonstrations or have other objectives other than pursuing an education.
It was Mahathir's second warning in a week to students to shun anti-government protests.
Earlier this month police arrested two student leaders under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial.
Norhelmi Jamil, president of student representative council at the University Utara Malaysia (UUM) said that the reasons for the arrests needed to be explained further as it had been a long time since the ISA was last used against students in 1974.
Students have played a prominent role in a series of "Reformasi" (reform) protests following the sacking and jailing of Mahathir's former deputy Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.
Apart from the students, six of Anwar's supporters are being held in a prison camp for up to two years under the ISA.
Malaysian online newspaper 'The Star' quoted the prime minister saying that the students appear to be entering universities solely to go against the government and their activities had become out of control of late.
"Their activities will threaten national security. That's why we have to take action," he told a press conference at the end of a two-day visit to Langkawi.
"Perhaps, in the future, the Government will sieve through the applications for entry into universities and only admit those who are really interested in studying.
"Many students do not realize the amount of money spent by the Government to set up universities. They do not care about the money spent for their sake.
"They treat universities as a center to gather students to fight the Government. So, what's the point of us spending so much if they don't want to learn?" he added.
On another note, the French news agency AFP quoted the prime minister as saying that the government will try to reduce its budget deficit for next year to ensure Malaysia can withstand any future financial crises.
"If we spend excessively, we will face a big problem. If the economy were to deteriorate, we would face even greater problems," he told a press conference after chairing a pre-budget dialogue.
The budget for 2001 unveiled last October forecast an overall deficit of 16.14 billion ringgit (4.25 billion dollars), or 4.9 percent of gross national product. It was the fourth deficit budget in a row.
Malaysia will celebrate Mahathir's 20th anniversary in power with the biggest dinner ever hosted in the country on Monday. More than 25,000 people from all over the southern state of Malacca would attend the dinner with the premier who completes 20 years in power on that day, according to AFP.
Mahathir has been active in politics since 1945. He has been a member of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) since its inception in 1946.
The 75-year-old politician has handled several posts in the Malaysian government including Chairman of the first Higher Education Council in 1968, Senator in 1973, and Minister of Education following the 1974 general election.
In the 1987 UMNO elections, Mahathir defeated his challenger to retain the Presidency and in 1990 and 1993, he was returned unopposed as party President. Under his leadership, the ruling party Barisan Nasional (National Front) won landslide victories in the 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995 and 1999 General Elections.
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