Crowd gathers at UM gate to await Anwar talk

Universiti Malaya is now in a lockdown by its security personnel ahead of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's arrival to address students for the "40 years: from UM to prison" later tonight.

The university's security has closed off the three entrances and barred entry to all vehicles.

There are about 50 people gathered at the university's main entrance along Jalan Universiti.

Anwar, the opposition leader, has said he would come to his alma mater to address the students, despite the event being banned by the university administration.

The event, organised by the elected body of student representatives, the UM Undergraduates' Association (PMUM) is scheduled to start at 9pm and will be held at the Dewan Tunku Canselor square on campus.

PMUM president Fahmi Zainol, who had just arrived, told the media that UM had refused to give consent for the event despite him meeting with the vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin earlier this afternoon.

The Universiti Malaya administration appears to be standing firm to its decision not to allow a programme featuring Anwar to be held on campus grounds by increasing its security measures.

First, the university administration allowed staff to clock off earlier at 4pm, citing electrical issues as the reason. However, two Malaysian Insider reporters were inside campus buildings until 6pm with no apparent electricity issues.

After university staff had left the campus grounds and returned home, UM security personnel closed the Kuala Lumpur entrance to all vehicles and redirected all incoming and outgoing traffic to the Petaling Jaya entrance.

Live updates:

8.48pm: The UM management is now opening a side entrance to allow students from campus to exit.

8.39pm: A representative from Persatuan Kebangsaan Islam Malaysia named Fazril Saleh says: "What we are doing is not an offence. Please allow the students to gather."

8.37pm: There are two separate crowds on the campus grounds with one directly at the KL gate and another slightly further away as UM security personnel push back the perimeter by setting up barriers about 200m from the KL gate. They still refuse to open the main gate.

8.36pm: A commotion in front of UM's Kuala Lumpur/Bangsar gate as students try to break it open.

8.32pm:  The crowd is now about 500-strong on both sides of the Kuala Lumpur/Bangsar entrance. This number includes those gathered on the outside, as well as students on the inside who are not allowed to leave. The PKR truck has been re-parked in front of this gate. Students start crying "Bangkit! Bangkit!"

8.30pm: PKR's Johari Abdul attempts to talk to the deputy vice chancellor to open the gates, but seems to be ignored. Student activist Safwan Anang is seen in the crowd.

8.27pm: The crowd has swelled to about 400 despite the rain.

8.24pm: Students begin shouting "Buka! Buka!" at the front gate. PKR leader Datuk Johari Abdul, the Sungai Petani MP, arrives.  He is also an UM alumnus.

8.22pm: There is a small commotion in front of  the gate as students from inside the campus try to get out.

8.20pm: PMUM president Fahmi Zainol is now negotiating to allow the crowd to enter the campus. The UM deputy vice chancellor of education is also present. A small sea of umbrellas opens as the rain gets heavier.

8.15pm: Students from the hostels in UM are barred from leaving the campus. They are gathering in front of the gate blocked by UM guards.

8:12pm: The crowds seek shelter as the drizzle gets heavier. PKR staff still trying to sort out the sound system. The PKR pick-up is parked in front of the UM Kuala Lumpur/Bangsar gate.

8.04pm: Students from UKM, UiTM and the host UM among the crowd in front of the gate. Khalilah Ismail, 22 says that she is here to listen to what Anwar has to say and prefers to hear from him in person rather than reading other sources.

8.04pm: A light drizzle has started. A man appears to be setting up a sound system on the PKR pick-up truck.

8:02pm: Crowd swells to about 200. They are moving towards the main UM gate at the Kuala Lumpur entrance as they follow a PKR pick-up truck. They are gathering around the truck wanting to know if Anwar is in the vehicle.

7:57pm: Five students from HELP University are also at the gathering. "This is our country and we want to know what is happening."