It disappoints me that our current university student population is polarising themselves to the conventional pro and anti establishment. This displays a paucity of ideas, following a political landscape that is currently fraught with bigotry and corruption.

If the pro-Mahasiswa team was so dissatisfied with the e-voting system, then they should have protested its use before the election and not after they have lost. Despite accusations that the e-voting system was unfair, I feel that this technological advance is necessary and should be utilised in the General Elections to come. Advocating a return to paper ballots is a regressive move.

The university authorities should display transparency in this e-voting process in order to avoid inviting criticisms of unfairness. Shrouding the process in secrecy will no doubt be a signal of an intention to deceive. It should be free from political influences from within and without the university.

The university should encourage a healthy debate of ideas. This will not only encourage the surfacing of new and innovative ideas but certainly improve tolerance of differing views.

Break free from the current political imprisonment as a result of years of shackling the press and oppression of free speech. Let the university election be a glimpse of a nascent generation of mature individuals thriving in a developed nation.

As of now, it is only a foolish mimicry of infantile politics.

Universities have traditionally been the hotbed of political activism. Therefore student elections are often a warring turf for political parties. The senior academics, many of whom have political affiliations or were elected to their office by political sources, often take sides silently.

This disputed ground is never to be taken lightly as it can potentially form the basis of the future political landscape. However, freedom of speech remains an abstract term with the disciplinary whip subtlely visible.

What disappoints me is that the candidates often imitate the infantile mentality of their adult counterparts in the political world. They resort to street processions rather than intellectual discussions. Many of them lack substance and originality and cements the idea of puppetry at work.

The university should be an exclusive zone where ideas should be allowed to flourish rather than be shackled by the academics, whom are themselves leashed by higher authorities. Students must learn to tackle sensitive issues with maturity and decorum rather than the hullabaloo we see whenever a sensitive issue crops up.

The ability to tackle difficult issues with dignity is a hallmark of a developed nation. Much of it remains a dream as of now.