Students to pitch tents outside campus to protest disciplinary action against UM8

Universiti Malaya student leader Wan Nur Syamimi Wan Sajiri says the Malaysian flag will be the symbol of their struggle. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 10, 2014.

Universiti Malaya (UM) student activists have launched "Occupy UM", issuing a call to all students to set up tent dwellings outside the campus gate in solidarity with the UM8 students who were punished yesterday for organising an illegal talk featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Student leader Wan Nur Syamimi Wan Sajiri in a statement said all Malaysians were also invited to show their solidarity and support for academic freedom by joining them and bringing the Malaysian flag as a symbol.

"Today, together with my fellow students, we launch Occupy UM in solidarity with the UM8. We will camp together in solidarity until the university withdraws all punishment against them.

"We have also chosen the Malaysian flag as the symbol of our uprising," she said.

Wan Nur Syamini said the occupation would last until the suspension and fines imposed on the students were lifted.

UM Undergraduates Association (PMUM) former president Fahmi Zainol was yesterday suspended for two consecutive semesters and fined RM600, while UM Pro-Mahasiswa president Safwan Shamsuddin was suspended for one semester and fined RM300.

Four others, Haw Yu Hong (PMUM vice-president), Khairul Anwar (PMUM welfare exco), Syamimi Munira Mohamed (PMUM secretary-general) and Adam Fistival Wilfrid (PMUM international and corporate affairs exco) were each fined RM150 and issued a warning.

PMUM public relations exco Abraham Au had charges against him dropped, while a warning was issued against UM Islamic Undergraduates Association president Khairol Najib Hashim.

Wan Nur Syamini, who heads the student group Sisters in Movement, said Fahmi and Safwan were her friends, but more than that, it was a protest against the lack of academic freedom and the muzzling of students.

“We have set up tents and will continue occupy this place until UM lifts the suspension,” Wan said.

“Fahmi and Safwan are our friends, so we feel compelled to do this in support of them. This is a 24-hour occupation as there will always be people who occupy this place," she told The Malaysian Insider.

In her statement, she said UM students felt regret and disappointment over the disciplinary action meted out yesterday at the end of a 12-hour long tribunal.

"It is despotic and contradicts the rights of Malaysian citizens as enshrined in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution,” she said.

Article 10 pertains to the freedom speech, assembly and association.

She said the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 had been used to restrict students’ voices and called on other universities not to use the same act on their students.

“We want to remind the university management that any action or punishment against students will never discourage students to fight for campus democracy and academic freedom.

“What happens in UM today is a signal of students revival.”

She said the reason behind the occupation was to show Malaysians the sorry state of Malaysian universities.

“Universities today no longer have freedom, students are oppressed, punished and suspended when they defend their rights. Students also being punished when they fight for academic freedom," she said.

Fahmi in a Facebook post, questioned his suspension and fine, asking UM whether it had any sympathy or empathy.

But he said his resolve was still strong and expressed gratitude for having had the chance to fight for students' rights.

Fahmi said the suspension imposed on him and Safwan had created the impression that the university authorities had no compassion and were unsympathetic because their examinations were due to be held in less than three weeks.

"Has the vice-chancellor's party and the university, including the minister, ever considered my parents' feelings? There are only a couple of months left before I graduate.

"Have they given thought to how happy my parents would be if they were able to see their son hold a degree in a couple of months?"

- TMI