PETALING JAYA: Universiti Malaya (UM) graduate Wong Yan Ke, who staged a solo protest against the vice-chancellor during his convocation ceremony, is being investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code for intentional insult to break the public peace.
He was called in by police today to give his statement after reports were lodged against him for calling for the resignation of vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Rashid.
Wong’s legal representative, Asheeq Ali, said more than 10 police reports had been lodged against the student activist.
“I’ve been made aware that the vice-chancellor will be called in to give his statement in a day or two,” Asheeq told reporters outside the Petaling district police headquarters.
Wong had conducted the solo protest during his convocation ceremony on Monday, displaying a protest placard on stage after he received his scroll against the university’s involvement in the recent Malay Dignity Congress.
UM lodged a police report against the engineering graduate yesterday, saying he had shown disrespect to the convocation ceremony and disrupted its protocol.
Asheeq maintained that Wong was innocent, saying valid criticism should not be counted as an insult.
“He had not uttered vulgar words nor did he make any personal attacks. He simply made his stand that the Malay Dignity Congress went against the principle of unity,” he said.
He said legal action would be taken against the university after Wong was prevented from collecting his degree certificate today, saying it had no legitimate reason to withhold the degree.
“There are only two situations where UM can withhold one’s degree – if a person is found guilty in a court of law of a serious criminal offence, or if that person is found to have attempted or done any scandal in acquiring the degree.
“Thus, UM should immediately release his degree certificate, failing which we will not hesitate to file a suit,” he said.
Asheeq said they will give the university 24 hours to respond.
Wong told reporters that when he tried to collect his certificate when returning his graduation gown, he was informed that it was “tainted” and that they wanted to change it.
He described it as a “ridiculous excuse”.
“I asked them to show it to me but they said they couldn’t. When I asked if it was because of the protest, they said they can’t answer on behalf of the university.
“When I asked if my academic transcript will be suspended, they said they couldn’t answer,” he said.
Wong said he had been ignored on multiple occasions by Rahim after sending him letters and memorandums on different issues.
“So where is the correct place and occasion (to protest) when the VC himself never responds to the students?” he asked.
Wong accused Rahim of creating a “culture of fear” by acting against him to discourage other students from staging similar protests.
“In my opinion, many are unhappy and reject what he did at the congress. He’s afraid that many students like me will directly protest against him. So he’s trying to make sure the voices against him are suppressed.”
Wong denied claims that he was being funded and supported by certain political parties, saying he was not even a member of a party.
“I’ve even taken pictures with (former prime minister) Najib Razak before. Are you saying I’m a double agent?” he asked.
The protest drew a mixed reaction, with netizens criticising Wong for disrespecting the convocation ceremony, while the Universiti Malaya Academic Staff Union (PKAUM) said it supported his right to express himself although it disagreed with the platform through which he had chosen to do so.
Wong had told FMT he was protesting against Rahim, who was seated in the front row of the hall, for allowing the university’s name to be used in the congress in Shah Alam on Oct 6.
Rahim was reported to have made a racially charged speech at the congress, organised by UM and three other public universities, which made headlines after chief organiser Zainal Kling reportedly said Malaysia belonged to the Malays. - FMT
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