Calls grow for Umno-linked 'Listen Listen' panelist to apologise for berating student

Following her public outburst at a student who criticised the Barisan Nasional government, calls have reverberated for Sharifah Zohra Jabeen Syed Shah Miskin to issue a public apology for her behaviour.

A Facebook fanpage themed "We want Sharifah Zohra Jabeen make a public apology to Miss Bavani" has at press time drawn more than 21,000 likes only after 17 hours of existence.

A video clip of the incident uploaded on YouTube had already been making waves among netizens, and has so far earned more 'dislikes' than 'likes' with majority of commentators expressing their disgust at Zohra's continued insults on plucky student K.S. Bawani.

In the event held last month, Bawani took the microphone on the floor to differ with the forum's pro-government slant, and defended electoral coalition chairpersons Ambiga Sreenevasan and A. Samad Said. Armed with data and figures she scribbled on her notebook, Bawani lent support to calls for free education.

While Bawani spoke, Zohra stepped down from the stage and confronted Bawani at arm's length.

Angry, repetitive and broken English

Bawani's attempt at backing up her arguments with more data was rudely interrupted by a visibly angry Zohra, who repeated the word "Listen!" even as Bawani pleaded for a few more minutes to state her case.

Defending the BN government's policies, Zohra even repeated the now-familiar argument that critics of the government should instead live abroad since they do not agree with its policies.

"If you're not happy, you are very much suitable [sic] to go to another university," said Zohra, revealing her poor grasp of the English language.

In another instance, Zohra derided Bawani as 'uneducated': "You have proven that you have a very least of [sic] pendidikan (education)," said Zohra in her broken English.

In classic crowd mentality, some 2000 students in the auditorium who had earlier applaused Bawani, however turned against her and began voicing approval for Zohra's attacks, many times clearly personal in nature.

Another panelist's request to speak was later turned down by Zohra, who baited the cheering crowd with the question, "Who wants a Galaxy Note?".

The event, organised by the UMNO-backed Suara Wanita 1Malaysia (SW1M) headed by Zohra, had a lucky draw to dish out 10 free tablets. Every student attending the event was also presented with a free T-shirt. Similar events had been held by SW1M for students of other universities, luring attendees with free merchandise.

Meanwhile, Zul Fikri Zamir, social activist and chairman of Teach For The Needs, a non-governmental organisation working to empower education in the country, questioned Zohra's act of leaving the stage in order to confront the vocal student.

"Is it a norm in Universiti Utara Malaysia (where this forum was held) for a panelist to come down and ‘confront’ the audience head on? In any forum in a mature country, I don't think such ‘intimidation’ is called for," he wrote in an open letter.

Zul Fikri also rapped Zohra for her repetitive taunt at Bawani, saying it smacked of language used by pre-school teachers, and invited Zohra to participate in a different forum on Malaysian undergraduates.

-Harakahdaily