THE EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION AND THE ARAB UPRISING: SOME FURTHER REFLECTIONS

WRITTEN BY CHANDRA MUZAFFAR

POSTED: 12 FEBRUARY 2011 16:13 http://www.just-international.org/

On 7th February 2011, we posted on the JUST website an article entitled “The Arab Uprising 12 Questions and 12 Answers” which examined a number of the underlying issues in the Egyptian Revolution and the larger Arab Uprising. We are carrying excerpts from that article since they provide useful background information on the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. The author of that article, Chandra Muzaffar, has also included two other issues arising from Mubarak’s ouster on 11th February 2011 in his analysis which appears below. 1. Mubarak has handed over power to the Egyptian military high command. What are its immediate tasks? From media reports, the military will through consultations with various groups that were involved in the Revolution formulate a provisional constitution which will be the basis for holding a free and fair election as soon as possible. The election will not be just for the Presidency; it could also include contests for Parliament. The powers of the President, Parliament and the Cabinet will have to be spelt out. Military rule, in other words, will be a brief prelude to civilian rule, and hopefully, a genuine democracy.

BENARKAN PELAJAR IPT ANGGOTAI PARTI POLITIK

By Saifuddin Abdullah

Timbalan Menteri Pengajian Tinggi

 

PENDAHULUAN
- Perbincangan dan pendirian untuk sama ada membenarkan atau tidak membenarkan pelajar IPT menganggotai parti politik amat bergantung kepada pandangan alam kita terhadap makna dan budaya ilmu, pendidikan tinggi, pelajar IPT dan politik.
- Sebagai analoginya, jika pandangan alam kita percaya bahawa dunia adalah sebuah permukaan yang rata dan mempunyai hujung yang bertebing curam, maka, kita tidak akan membina kapal yang canggih. Ini kerana kita tidak akan belayar jauh di lautan sebab takut akan terjatuh di hujung dunia. Tetapi, jika pandangan alam kita percaya bahawa dunia adalah bulat, maka, kita akan membina kapal yang canggih. Ini kerana kita tidak lagi berasa takut terjatuh di tebing dunia. Sebaliknya kita berasa berani, berkeinginan, belajar dan bersedia untuk belayar ke tempat yang paling jauh. Begitu jugalah pandangan alam terhadap makna dan budaya ilmu, pendidikan tinggi, pelajar IPT dan politik. Ia akan mempengaruhi sama ada hendak melihat dan melaksanakan proses pembinaan pelajar IPT yang canggih ataupun sebaliknya.