Yesterday 4 University Malaya students, Anis Syafiqah, Mohamad Luqman Nul Haqim, Muhammad Luqman Hakim and Suhail Wan Azahar were found guilty in a disciplinary hearing by a 3 person panel for “acting in a manner that is detrimental and prejudicial to the interest and good reputation of the University of Malaya, and that is detrimental too to public safety, morals, and civility and of violating the university’s regulations”.
The convictions include taking part in a peaceful rally in Kuala Lumpur calling for the arrest of the highly controversial Malaysian Official 1 or better known as MO1 who is involved in a colossal corruption scandal that has panned the globe and brought disrepute to Malaysia. The 4 students face one or more penalties ranging from a warning, a fine of no more than RM 200, a ban on entering certain parts of the university for a determinate period of time, suspension from the university for a determinate period of time, or expulsion from the university.
The convictions were handed out yesterday by Associate Prof Dr Nahrizul Adib Bin Kadri, Prof Dr Azizah Hamzah and Prof Dr Mohd Suffian Bin Mohd Annuar who questioned all 4 students on their involvement in the rally, despite being unable to justify how the activities of these students, were prejudicial to the interest of University Malaya and that public rallies are detrimental to public order.
What is the interest of University Malaya apart from being a cradle of education, to mould, enrich and create passionate, driven, bold wholesome young men and women armed with knowledge and wisdom to take on the challenges of the world? If yes, why then persecute these 4 young right-minded students who echo the demands and calls of every patriotic Malaysian for the government to reveal and arrest MO1 who is neck-deep in a colossal corruption scandal globally?
The decision of the 3 panelists clearly contradict Article 10(a) of the Federal Constitution that provides for freedom of speech and expression and Article 10(b) which protects the freedom to assemble peacefully. If the Federal Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land provides for freedom to speak and assemble, then any regulation in an institute of higher learning that contradicts the spirit of the Constitution has no standing at all.
The decision has also clearly made a mockery of “Keluhuran Perlembagaan” or “upholding the Constitution” as in the Rukunegara by denying the students the right to express their fundamental liberties without fear and the values of democracy, justice, impartiality and equality, all consecrated in the Constitution.
How would these 3 esteemed panelists justify public rallies detrimental to public order? Do they also know who MO1 is? If yes, then what is the vested interest of Assoc Prof Dr Nahrizul Adib Bin Kadri, Prof Dr Azizah Hamzah and Prof Dr Mohd Suffian Bin Mohd Annuar to protect this MO1 and justify calls for the arrest of MO1 as detrimental to public order? MO1 could be just as well Pokemon!
Would they say the same thing towards UM students if they had participated in the Red Shirts Rally? Or would they have also taken the same stand if UM students had participated in a rally to condemn violence, hate crimes and ethnic cleansing in Sri Lanka or Myanmar? What about a rally against the terrorist group ISIS?
Infact, it is MO1 who has brought disrepute, shame and embarrassment to Malaysia and her citizens and not the activities of the 4 students that is prejudicial to the interest of University Malaya.
University Malaya must make a stand to overrule the decision of the 3 panelists who have found the 4 students guilty on all 4 charges to encourage students to practise critical thinking, reasoning and to decide for themselves what is right or wrong. There is no business for a prestigious institute of higher learning such as University Malaya to curtail the movement of its students to join a public rally or the freedom to speak their minds by coming down hard on students who through a healthy process of thought, analysis and deliberation decide to speak up and question without fear of favour.
UM cannot choose to be silent on abuses of fundamental civil liberties and human rights by the powers that be on her students. When universities become silent and turn a blind eye towards abuses of power, corruption and race based politics and policies, that act translated into ruthless attempts to demoralize and collar its bright, young students who want to stand up for what is right and just.
It is this subtle culture of propagating fear amongst students that will suppress critical thinking and courage to speak up for what is right and to criticise what is wrong, to speak with conviction, which is the core spirit for being patriotic Malaysians.
Malaysian citizens from all walks of life stand in solidarity with Anis Syafiqah, Mohamad Luqman Nul Haqim, Muhammad Luqman Hakim and Suhail Wan Azahar who have been victims of a paranoid, cowardice establishment that chooses to silence voices of dissent.
I urge malaysians to come together to sign an online petition to the Vice Chancellor of University Malaya Tan Sri Professor Dato’ Dr. Mohd. Amin Jalaludin to drop charges against the 4 UM students.
#MansuhAUKU
#Malaya4