Yesterday University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president Kon Hua En said that four students are facing disciplinary action over the protest at 1 MDB town hall meeting at the university last October.
He said the four students, former Umany president Ho Chi Yang, Umany deputy president Tan Jia You, Umany publicity bureau head Chua Hun Ti and Umany secretary-general Lau Li Yang had received a notice of proceedings over the protest. The proceedings will be held on Jan 18.
In the October incident, the students held placards displaying “Students want answers”, “1MDB don’t spin”, and “1MDB – We want answers”, while 1MDB group executive director and president Arul Kanda was addressing students.
I am appalled by the University’s action which is petty and a waste of time. The University’s action is also against the fundamental role of a university – to be a place for the pursuit of truth and knowledge.
A university can only help to produce better citizens if it encourages the students to seek and find truth.
The protest staged by the four students was a pursuit of truth which is a right that must be encouraged and supported. It is hence appalling that the University administration is doing the opposite.
The charges which say that the students’ behavior was detrimental to public order, decency, and discipline and also provoking or taking part in boycotting an official event will again make the University become a laughing stock in the global academic community.
Why does the Administration keep damaging its own reputation by taking disciplinary actions against students who are involved in student activism and protests when such activities should be supported?
Last month, four student activists were punished by the University Malaya (UM) disciplinary panel for participating in the ‘#TangkapMO1’ rally on Aug 27, 2016.
Anis Syafiqah, Mohamad Luqman Nul Haqim and Muhammad Luqman Hakim Fazli were suspended for a semester, fined RM400 each and given a stern warning. Another student, Suhail Wan Azahar, was only fined RM400 and issued a stern warning.
The new action against the Umany leaders again proves that the University Administration just does not care about its own image and is not committed to the real role of a university .
University is the place where many leaders of the nation are produced. Good leaders can only be produced if there is respect for academic freedom and encouragement of student activism. The university students’ right to pursue truth must never be curtailed.
I therefore call on the University Administration to withdraw the notices served on the Umany leaders.