Immediate Comment by Loke Siew Fook in Petaling Jaya on Thursday, 18^th June 2009:

Disappointing judgement on five of the ISA7 a fatal blow to students’ freedom of expression and association

DAPSY strongly condemns the decision by the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court to jail or heavily fine five individuals who took part in an anti-ISA rally in 2001 when they were students in public universities. The guilty verdict is extremely disappointing and is a huge blow to Malaysian students’ freedom of expression and freedom of association.

The authorities must understand that the right to express one’s views and the right to share one’s ideas in a group are essential to the formation of a competitive and vibrant academic environment.

DAPSY stands in solidarity with the five individuals and many other student activists who are being hunted down by the authorities, and hopes that such a clampdown on student rights will not happen again.

* Loke Siew Fook, DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) National Chairman & MP for Rasah