Academics tell cops to go after real wrongdoers in attack on UM students

The Malaysian Academic Movement (Gerak) has called on the police to take action against the real culprits in an incident yesterday which saw supporters of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak set on Universiti Malaya students who were protesting against him.

Najib's supporters subsequently lodged a police report against the students, alleging provocation. The students were later questioned by police.

"We call upon the authorities to not detain and further harass the innocent party, the students.

"Instead, swift action must be taken against the real wrongdoers - those who manhandled and verbally abused the UM students," it said.

Yesterday, a small group of students protested against Najib from across the street of a restaurant near the Kerinchi entrance of Universiti Malaya.

They held up a cut-out of a clown-faced Najib caricature as well as placards condemning him over the 1MDB scandal.

"Unedited video images of the attack clearly show the students peacefully exercising their constitutional rights to assembly and the expression of their views on the former premier.

"Then, a bunch of Najib’s supporters shamelessly set upon them and assaulted them," said Gerak.

‘Cowardly’ attempt to racialise issue

The movement also slammed Najib's supporters for trying to racialise the issue.

"In the process, and in typical racist hooligan’s style, Najib’s supporters played the racial card by spinning the UM students' criticism of their boss as 'menghina orang Melayu' (insulting Malays).

"This we condemn as outright stupid, cowardly and racist," it said.

Gerak also called on Education Minister Maszlee Malik and the academic fraternity to show solidarity with the six UM students involved.

"We should not allow any form of thuggery and racism to undermine our academic freedom and constitutional rights," it said.

Meanwhile, media advocacy group Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) also condemned Najib's supporters for harassing Malaysiakini's interns after they filed a report on the altercation.

"Two Umno leaders reportedly hurled expletives and physically harassed the two Malaysiakini interns due to unhappiness over a report on the fracas.

"Geramm hereby condemns the unacceptable act of physical and verbal assault against journalists on duty.

"It is understood that a police report has been lodged over the incident and Geramm hereby urged the authorities to swiftly investigate the incident," it said in a separate statement.

Geramm also reiterated for the establishment of a Malaysian Media Council as a platform for dispute resolution. - Mkini