Students protest 'political interference' on campus in memo to ministry

A group of students today submitted a memorandum of protest to the Higher Education Ministry in Putrajaya over alleged political interferences in campus administrations. 

Group spokesperson Nurul Aqilah Zainuzi later told Malaysiakini that the memorandum, which highlighted concerns over a recent series of disciplinary actions against student activists, was also a follow-up to their meeting with a National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) representative in Sabah. 

“There were eight of us who came today. Unfortunately we did not get to meet the minister (Idris Jusoh). 

“We did not even manage to set an appointment to meet him because his personal officers were also unavailable to meet,” she said. 

The University Malaysia Sabah student, however, added that a ministry officer who received their memorandum had promised a response before she was due to face Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s disciplinary board on Feb 21.

Nurul Aqilah, together with Suara Mahasiswa UMS chairperson Mukmin Nantang, were threatened with disciplinary actions under the University and University Colleges Act 1971 over their involvement in the Bersih 5 last November. 

The two were also accused of going against Procedure 3(a)(ii) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Discipline of Students) Rules 1999 which prohibits student participation in activities deemed as a threat to public security and order.

Commenting further, Nurul Aqilah said their demands were also based on recommendations which Suhakam had made since 2015, for a review of provisions under the UUCA which infringes on a student’s freedom of speech, assembly, association and the right to fair trial. 

Also present at the ministry today were three Universiti Malaya activists who last week had their one semester suspension lifted by the campus administration. 

The university, however, upheld the guilty verdict against Anis Syafiqah Md Yusof, Suhail Wan Azhar, Muhammad Luqman Nul Haqim Zul Razali and Muhammad Luqman Hakim Mohd Fazli.

Anis Syafiqah and the UM4 student leaders were fined and suspended in December last year over their involvement in the TangkapMO1 rally in August 2016. - Mkini