WHILE higher education institutions (HEIs) are allowed their own on-campus concert guidelines, the regulations must still abide by the Federal Constitution, says Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal.
The Deputy Higher Education Minister said before issuing approvals, public and private HEIs should consider the Constitution in terms of religion and local laws.
“The Ministry has issued a guide for these institutions to follow in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
“We don’t want the institutions to freely give out approvals as we have legislations that we need to abide by,” he said in reply to a question by Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN-Parit Buntar) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Mohd Misbahul had asked the ministry to state the guidelines that are used in all public and private HEIs for the organisation of concerts on campus regardless of domestic or foreign artists.
Mohammad Yusof told the Dewan Rakyat that student representative bodies and student unions involved in drafting the guidelines should also consider laws within the campuses’ localities.
“This is to ensure that the voice and needs of the students can be taken into account when drafting the guidelines,” he said.
To a separate question, Mohammad Yusof said the government has no issue allowing foreign artistes to perform in HEI campuses.
“We don’t limit the university from inviting foreign artistes (performing in campus) as long as they follow our rules,” he said, responding to Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan).
Bung Moktar had asked the deputy minister if it was necessary for local campuses to invite foreigners to perform in their institutions.
In September, the Higher Education Ministry said it will leave it to the students and management of IPTs to set guidelines on the organisation of any entertainment activity or concert at their campuses.
On June 24, a public university in Terengganu was reportedly fined RM25,000 for organising a concert without the necessary permission.
Sinar Daily reported that the Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT) issued the compound notice in accordance with the MBKT Entertainment and Entertainment Enactment 2002 by-laws.
A 37-second video of a concert purportedly taking place in the hall of a Terengganu university went viral on social media in June.
