SENATE PASSES TWO BILLS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- The Senate Thursday passed the
Universities and University Colleges (Amendment) Bill 2008 and the Finance Bill
2008.

Winding up debate on the Universities and University Colleges Bill, Deputy
Higher Education Minister Idris Haron said with the amendment, students would be
prevented from joining political parties and unlawful organisations.

He said students would be allowed to be involved in programmes with
political elements based on research while political parties could join
university programmes provided they were on academic and not political
issues.

Idris said the passing of the Universities and University Colleges Act
(AUKU) would allow students to become members of associations or organisations
at home or abroad, turning them into dynamic and radical students.

"However, the students are prohibited from getting involved with political
parties at home or abroad, unlawful organisations, and others deemed
unsuitable," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Kong Cho Ha said the Finance Bill 2008
replaced amendments to the Income Tax Act 1967, Stamp Act 1949, Petroleum
(Income Tax) Act 1967 and the Labuan Offshore Business Activity Tax Act
1990.

"The bill was amended to facilitate taxing as announced in Budget 2009 and
to make the government job easier as it need not amend the respective acts," he
said.

The bills were passed without debate. The Senate sits again on Monday.
-- BERNAMA