Academic staff of the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) have thrown their support behind the university’s student union president, who was charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act for protesting rising inflation.
Muhammad Aliff Naif (above) pleaded not guilty on Aug 17 over the charge over his involvement in the Turun peaceful assembly in Kuala Lumpur on July 23, 2022.
The university’s Academic Staff Association said Aliff’s freedom of speech, assembly, and association are fundamental rights guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.
“We strongly believe that this fundamental freedom must be respected and any attempt to intimidate those who exercise such rights must be condemned.
“Public protest is a manifestation of public demands and should be recognised by policymakers as important to improve existing policies,” it said in a statement yesterday.
Aliff was one of the speakers at the Turun rally, which attracted about 100 protestors.
The group had planned to march from outside Sogo shopping centre on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to Dataran Merdeka but was barred from entering the square.
Their five demands to the government were: that ministers’ pay be cut, government subsidies are continued, decent assistance is provided to the people, prices of goods are controlled, and the issue of food security be addressed.
Aliff was charged alongside Batu PKR Yoth chief Muhammad Sabda Suluh Lestari Yahya and Amanah Youth chief Hasbie Muda.
Hasbie was charged over his role in Amanah’s protest against the rising price of goods, in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur on July 1. - Mkini
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