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‘Little Ambiga’ (KS Bawani) versus SW1M President (‘Kak Listen’)

S. AMBIGA WAS AT SILIBIN & BUNTONG, IPOH ON MAY 1, 2013!

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Malaysian Insider

After ‘listen, listen, listen’ episode, Bawani hits the limelight at Universiti Utara Malaysia

BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH
November 17, 2013

Law undergraduate K. S. Bawani has moved on from the ‘Listen, listen, listen’ episode to win a seat on the student council at her university. – K. S. Bawani Facebook pic, November 17, 2013.
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Law undergraduate K. S. Bawani, of the “listen, listen, listen” fame could not have imagined that her war of words with a Putrajaya-endorsed activist speaker last year, which went viral, would be a game changer in her life.
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It not only put 28-year-old Bawani under the spotlight, but also provided publicity for her “cause” – social justice.

“I am now more famous,” she said with a laugh.

The fame or notoriety, depending on how one looked at it, translated into votes for Bawani in the recent UUM student council elections, earning her a seat on the council, despite the flak she received for allegedly putting the university in a bad light following the incident at the forum.

She was one of 13 Pro-Mahasiswa candidates who won. Out of the 36 seats contested, Pro-Aspirasi candidates took 15 while a new group, Hijrah, bagged six seats and independent candidates won the remaining two seats.

The pro-Mahasiswa is seen as a challenger to the pro-Aspirasi student movement, which is pro-establishment.
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However, her road to a seat on the student council was not plain sailing.

Bawani revealed that as was the case last year, her work with Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) was the subject of much controversy.

“They (the rival faction) were linking my name to communism, and all sorts of things. They distributed a flyer about me; that I supported Chin Peng, that I was fighting for free education and more.

“The university authorities also called up a few Pro-M candidates and questioned them if I had poisoned their minds and if I had any hidden agenda,” Bawani said.

She was therefore shocked that despite all that, she managed to win a general seat on the council.

“But people are now also aware of what I am fighting for and more importantly, what goes on in public universities – the brainwashing of students and the independence of the university,” she added.

Despite her interest in social services and her affiliation with PSM, Bawani insists that she is not out to be a politician.

“I am not looking for a career in politics,” she said.

“I am more interested in volunteerism and social services. Besides, I am hoping to practise law after graduation.”

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/after-listen-listen-listen-episode-bawani-hits-the-limelight-at-universiti

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Listen, listen, listen’ Bawani wins, pro-M fate in balance

Outspoken student activist KS Bawani, who shot to fame after the ‘Listen, listen, listen‘ video went viral, yesterday won a seat in what appears to be the closest battle in the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) student body elections in recent history.

“Thank you to all my comrades who are always teaching and guiding me… This victory is also your victory. The struggle against oppression continues,” Bawani said on Facebook.

She became one of 13 pro-Mahasiswa-aligned candidates who trumped their opponents, making major inroads in the UUM student body, which like Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), is largely seen as a pro-establishment stronghold.

This is two seats less than the Aspirasi candidates, who won 15 seats out of the total 36 contested. Another group, Hijrah, won six seats while independent candidates won two seats.

The pro-Mahasiswa (Pro-M) movement positions itself as a counter to the Aspirasi student movement, which is more pro-establishment. Hijrah is seen as a pro-M splinter group.

Last year, the Aspirasi-aligned candidates made an almost clean sweep in UUM, taking 34 out of the 36 seats up for contest.

‘Listen, listen, listen’ Bawani wins, pro-M fate in balance

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