Dataran, the political wrestling ring?

Let's put aside our differences, but it is simply abominable to see the students at Merdeka Square assaulted.

Behind the abomination lies probably some more heinous conspiracies.

What I'm trying to say is that no one should attack the students. The act is both unwarranted and against the laws. It would only trigger social backlash and ignite public indignation.

Unless they are utter morons, the attackers should be well aware that their actions would only change public perception of the students occupying the Dataran.

If they had known it, why did they do it again?

Were they morons or they had some hidden agendas?

No one can offer an answer right now, and it doesn't look like an answer is about to come any time soon, unless the police could snatch the perpetrators and identify the mastermind.

Most politically motivated assaults have so far lain unresolved. If the police do not work a little harder, it wouldn't be hard to see who would be made the next scapegoats.

Malaysian politics have taken on a more and more complicated form, some trying to fish in troubled waters while certain radical outfits have gone unconstraint or advanced their motives through gangsterisms, all with political gains in their minds.

University students are simple-minded. Behind the Dataran they occupy lurk a host of dangers and risks. After all, the Dataran is never half as safe as their campus.

To be fair, we may disagree with what the students are doing, we have every obligation to see that their right of assembly is respected and their personal safety not endangered.

These students do not pose any threat to any individual. So long as they take good care of their own health and safety, keep the cleanliness and hygiene of the environment and not neglect their studies, the government and society should show a little magnanimity, allowing them to have a little space they could occupy.

The "Occupy" movement is a kind of expressive freedom. Of course, we all hope that the students not only know how to occupy, but also do so convincingly.

In other words, while we can disagree with them, we must approve their freedom of expressing themselves.

Initially everyone exercised some degree of self-constraint. While the City Hall stepped in and interfered, the way they intervened was mild, not confrontational; the higher education ministry and university authorities were also quite tolerant and have refrained from taking disciplinary actions.

The public, meanwhile, have been looking at this incident from more positive perspectives. While some lent their support to the students, others questioned their justification.

Just as I disagreed with the abolition of PTPTN loans and free tertiary education, I did not object to the way the students assembled and occupied.

On the Dataran a positive atmosphere was gradually brewing: On the one hand differing voices could be expressed peacefully, on the other a more liberal political culture was slowly taking shape, unlike the confrontations we used to see in past gatherings.

Unfortunately, some people, or groups, did not like to see such a positive development, probably because such development would harm their interests.

University students not only need to be filled with fervour, but also wisdom.

-Sin Chew Daily