“The prime minister has said that the university can handle this issue on its own and does not need the government to interfere.

“I have told my deputy, Teo Nie Ching, that we will not get involved.

“We will only mediate if both parties agree,” he said this after officiating the International Islamic University of Malaysia’s student council at its Gombak campus today.

Wong, a civil engineering student, had carried a placard on stage during his convocation ceremony on Oct 14 demanding the resignation of UM vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim for getting UM involving in organising the recent Malay Dignity Congress.

UM later lodged a police report against Wong, accusing him of tarnishing the university’s image as well as disrupting convocation protocols. Wong was later asked to give his statement to police.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that the ministry targets to set up student unions at five public universities next year.

‘’If possible, we want all universities, whether public or private, to have student unions,’’ he said.

Maszlee said setting up student unions at universities could train students to become more mature in handling themselves and give them more experience in managing unions, finance and undergraduate activities.

‘’We hope the setting up of student unions, starting with IIUM, will be followed by other universities after this,’’ he said.

Maszlee said IIUM was the first student union after it was abolished more than 40 years ago.

‘’We know the last student union was at UM. Today, it is brought back to life in IIUM. We are very proud because this is the start of the change to the future development of the nation.’’

In appreciation, the IIUM students’ union received a RM100,000 one-off fund from the ministry. It will also receive an annual allocation of RM170,000 from IIUM for student activities and their operations.