The violent police action against a group of student at a New Year sit-in in Tanjung Malim is a “national tragedy” and a sign of a cruel government, said ex-Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin.
“I was shocked to see the students who were demonstrating being injured like that.
“If it is proven that it was the police who had hit them, then this is a tragedy for our country,” said the vocal mufti (right) in a New Year message yesterday from the UK.
“Students must be given room to voice their concerns in a safe environment. If they are harassed or injured, it is a sign of a government that is cruel.”
Asri said the authorities need not agree with the students’ views but the police action during the incident was “improper”.
“If you want to detain them, detain them according to the proper procedure, not hit them,” he said.
He said suppressing the students would only provoke hatred towards the authorities that later will have to be resolved further.
“You have to remember what has happened in Tunisia,” said Asri, calling for a commission of inquiry into the incident.
“I was shocked to see the students who were demonstrating being injured like that.“If it is proven that it was the police who had hit them, then this is a tragedy for our country,” said the vocal mufti (right) in a New Year message yesterday from the UK.
“Students must be given room to voice their concerns in a safe environment. If they are harassed or injured, it is a sign of a government that is cruel.”
Asri said the authorities need not agree with the students’ views but the police action during the incident was “improper”.
“If you want to detain them, detain them according to the proper procedure, not hit them,” he said.
He said suppressing the students would only provoke hatred towards the authorities that later will have to be resolved further.
“You have to remember what has happened in Tunisia,” said Asri, calling for a commission of inquiry into the incident.
Yesterday police arrestedabout 20 student activists after violently breaking up an academic freedom sit-in outside Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in Tanjung Malim, Perak, in the early hours of the new year.
The students had initially gathered at the university's east gate at around 12.30am to welcome the new year and demand for academic freedom.
[More to follow]
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