Dalam satu kenyataannya yang disiarkan oleh The Malay Mail, Menteri Pengajian Tinggi Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah mengakui kehebatan dan serta daya penarik yang dimiliki oleh DS Anwar Ibrahim dalam menakluki hati para pelajar untuk menjadikan beliau seorang pemimpin yang dikagumi oleh para pelajar.
Dalam masa yang sama beliau juga turut menggesa agar Barisan Nasional mencari pemimpin yang boleh diketengahkan untuk menandingi Anwar Ibrahim dalam mendapatkan sokongan daripada golongan pelajar.
Wanted — ‘Anwar’ to take on Anwar
Barisan Nasional needs leaders who can engage varsity students
PETALING JAYA: BARISAN Nasional (BN) needs a stable of leaders who can engage college and university students much as Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can rally youths to his cause.
Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah told The Malay Mail if BN lacked this pool of leaders, the political coalition had better nurture a few to match Anwar's fiery and magnetic personality.
"Students, universally and throughout history, are usually inclined to be antiestablishment.
"They are also attracted to idealistic and charismatic leaders not because they are immature and, hence, easily manipulated, but simply because idealistic and charismatic leaders normally address issues close to students' idealism and their lookout for icons that represent their idealism.
"BN should have their own brand of idealistic and charismatic leaders that are real and genuine, not makeup or cosmetic. These leaders must be open and easily accessible to students."
Saifuddin said these inspiring figures did not have to be radical or revolutionary, but a progressive personality and a leader who understands the basic wants and needs of the students, and able to speak the students' language as well as registering and championing their causes, was enough.
"BN leaders must understand the three basic things that the students want: they want their voices heard, they want their roles recognised, they want their issues addressed in ways that are student-oriented."
When asked if any current BN public figures or youth leaders fitted the bill, Saifuddin said there were "several" with a student following.
"Students are divided into two main categories: the politically active and the non-politically active. The politically active are a minority and perhaps half of them are attracted to people like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"However, students' demo can happen any time, with or without Anwar. The question is, will it get support?
"But if we do things better and amend Section 15 of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) in a progressive and comprehensive way, we should be able to demotivate, if not totally stop, such demonstrations."
Saifuddin's response came in light of a recent rise of student demonstrations, both pro-government and pro-opposition, which had caused an uproar among the higher education community.
The Malay Mail
