MB urged to reinstate Bersih students' scholarships

About 100 people gathered at Wisma Darul Iman in Kuala Terengganu yesterday afternoon to protest Menteri Besar Ahmad Said’s move to terminate the scholarships of students who were involved in the Bersih 2.0 demonstration last July 9.

Members and supporters of the Malaysia Muslim Students Alliance (Gamis), Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), the East Coast University Students Movement (Gempur) and Terengganu People’s Solidarity Council (Mampat) gathered outside the state secretariat building to urge Ahmad to reinstate the scholarships of the affected students.

On March 18, the menteri besar withdrew the scholarships of six students who were arrested for participating in the Bersih rally.

A Gempur spokesperson told Malaysiakini that the scholarships were withdrawn from nine students and not six as reported by the media.

The banner-carrying protesters also took time to explain to the public the opposition’s proposal to abolish the national higher education fund (PTPTN) loans and provide free education for Malaysians.

Later, they left behind a tent in front of Wisma Darul Iman building - the headquarters of the Terengganu government - as a symbolic gesture in support of their colleagues who have been camping at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur for the past six days to demand the abolition of PTPTN.