WE, the undersigned, strongly condemn the violent assault by followers and supporters of Najib Razak on Universiti Malaya students who staged a peaceful protest on March 22. The students were merely exercising their rights to freedom of assembly and expression, as enshrined in our constitution.
Unedited video images of the incident showed that the students were demonstrating peacefully and exercising their constitutional right to express their opinion and view on the performance of the former prime minister. They were then harassed, attacked and assaulted by a group of Najib’s followers and supporters.
We also condemn the justifications given and used by these attackers, who framed the students’ action of criticising Najib as “menghina orang Melayu” and labelling them as “DAP students”. Such justifications are improper and not in any manner acceptable excuses for their attack on the students.
Moreover, the justifications given are misleading. One needs to differentiate between criticism of a public figure, and insulting a person’s religion and race. The former is clearly within the constitutional right of any citizen to express their views on the former prime minister’s performance during his tenure in office.
The attackers also threatened two journalists with violence, to stop them from discharging their duty to report the incident.
Further, it is regrettable to note that police have not arrested the attackers.
We call upon the authorities to act swiftly by investigating this incident and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Malaysians from all walks of life came together on March 23 for a solidarity march, to affirm their love for peace and rejection of all forms of violence. It is, therefore, most regrettable that such attacks and assaults took place.
We call upon all Malaysians, irrespective of political affiliation and ethnicity, to reject all forms of violent behaviours and actions that threaten, intimidate and prevent fellow Malaysians from exercising their right to freedom of expression in a public space.
This is also in line with two of the affirmations of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Declaration 2019, made during the solidarity gathering – “condemnation of any act of discrimination, violence and killing in the name of religion or ethnicity, and total rejection of any act or culture based on hatred in the name of religion or ethnicity”. – March 25, 2019.
* Endorsed by the following civil groups:
1) All Women’s Action Society
2) Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia
3) Angkatan Gerak Minda Malaysia
4) Association of Toy Libraries Malaysia
5) Association of Women Lawyers
6) Bersihkan Malaysia Perth
7) Bersih Sydney
8) Bersih Timor Leste
9) Beyond Borders
10) Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia
11) Buku Jalanan Chow Kit
12) Centre for Independent Journalism
13) CHALLENGER Malaysia
14) Childline Malaysia
15) Community Integration Movement
16) Damn the Dams
17) ECCE Council
18) Education Welfare Research Foundation
19) ENGAGE
20) Foreign Spouses Support Group
21) Gabungan Pembebasan Akademik
22) Global Organisation Of People Of Indian Origin
23) Green Friends Sabah
24) Islamic Renaissance Front
25) Justice for Sisters
26) Knowledge and Rights with Young People Through Safer Space
27) Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
28) Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independen
29) Liga Pemuda
30) LLG Cultural Development Centre
31) Malaysia Muda
32) Malaysian Association of Social Workers
33) Malaysian Progressives in Australia
34) Merdeka University Bhd
35) Monsoons Malaysia
36) Movement for Change, Sarawak
37) Muslim Professionals Forum
38) Negri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall
39) North South Initiative
40) Partners in Community Organising, Sabah
41) People Like Us Support Ourselves
42) Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia
43) Pemuda Parti Sosialis Malaysia
44) Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara
45) Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor
46) Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan
47) Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
48) Persatuan Sains Sosial Malaysia
49) Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia
50) Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kebajikan dan Persekitaran Positif Malaysia
51) Pusat KOMAS
52) Sabah Women’s Action Resources Group
53) Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia
54) Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas
55) Sisters in Islam
56) Society for the Promotion of Human Rights
57) Suara Rakyat Malaysia
58) Tamil Foundation Malaysia
59) Tenaganita
60) Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy
61) Tindak Malaysia
62) United Chinese School Alumni Associations of Malaysia
63) Women’s Aid Organisation
64) Women’s Centre for Change
65) Women Development Organisation of Malaysia
66) Yayasan Aspirasi Rakyat Amalan Malaysia
67) Youth Era
68) Youth Section of Malacca Chinese Assembly Hall
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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