Mat Hasan: UM student's solo protest a forgivable mistake

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan today said Universiti Malaya's student activist Wong Yan Ke's solo protest on his graduation day is a forgivable act, amid calls for the varsity to cancel his degree.

Asked for comments on the calls for UM to cancel Wong's degree, Mohamad (photo), who said he is personally unsure of the relevant provisions, noted that it would be an "extreme move" by the university's administration.

"For me, to cancel his degree would be an extreme move," Mohamad told reporters after the launch of Selangor Umno's state convention in Shah Alam this morning.

"He has done something unprecedented...He should express remorse over his actions because it was done not at the appropriate venue.

"Everyone makes mistakes. We can forgive him if he apologises to UM’s chancellor and the administration," said the Rantau assemblyperson.

Wong, upon receiving his scroll on Monday, proceeded to yell “Tolak rasis. Undur VC. Ini Tanah Malaysia (Reject racist. VC withdraw. This is Tanah Malaysia)” while holding up a placard which listed several reasons why UM vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim should resign.

The engineering graduate later explained his actions on Facebook, saying it was in protest of Rahim’s alleged "racist" speech.

Wong is believed to be referencing the speech made by the VC during the Malay Dignity Congress on Oct 6.

In his speech, Rahim allegedly claimed the change in government after GE14 had eliminated Malay political dominance and asserted that Malay privileges were being questioned.

UM subsequently denounced the protest and lodged a police report against Wong, describing his actions in the midst of the five-day graduation ceremony as being "rude and unacceptable."

UM board of directors chairperson Tengku Mohd Azman Shariffadeen Tengku Ibrahim in a statement today, however, clarified that the university will not withhold Wong's transcript or cancel his degree.

Tengku Mohd Azman also said Wong has been informed that his academic transcript can be collected at any time from yesterday. - Mkini