The Universiti Malaya Students’ Union (UMSU) has condemned university authorities for shutting down a forum discussing the freedom of speech yesterday.
“We (UMSU) regret the matter as it should not have occurred at UM, which is one of the best universities in Malaysia.
“We hoped to have academic elements during the ‘Week of Welcome’ but university authorities have stopped this academic session, causing students to lose the opportunity to be exposed to different opinions and exercise their critical thinking to separate the wheat from the chaff.
“They have acted like extreme parents, saying this is not suitable, that speaker is not allowed to speak. They just shot down the entire session,” UMSU president Ooi Guo Shen told a press conference today.
The forum slated to be held yesterday morning was organised by UMSU in conjunction with the university’s orientation week.
It was intended as an academic forum titled “Freedom of Speech on Campus” featuring Suaram coordinator Wong Yan Ke, Election Commission deputy chairperson Azmi Sharom, and UMSU secretary-general Najwa Hureen.
Wong is a UM graduate, while Azmi is previously a law lecturer at the university.
Upon arrival, Wong supposedly was barred from entering the venue at Dewan Tunku Canselor by the university’s auxiliary police.
Although Wong managed to enter the hall through the backdoor, the university administration supposedly shut down its sound system within five minutes of the event starting and dispersed about 2,000 students attending the forum.
According to Ooi, a Student Affairs Department official threatened to take disciplinary action against him.
He demanded university officials involved in the incident to apologise to UMSU and the students for disrupting the forum.
He also urged the university administration to sack the officials involved if there is a recurrence in the future, arguing that such “unprofessional” behaviour prevents UM from becoming a better university.
With a general election drawing near, Ooi urged politicians of all parties to pledge to defend students’ rights, including the freedom of speech and academic freedom.
Malaysiakini has contacted the university for comment regarding the incident and is awaiting a response.
‘Find someone of higher stature’
Meanwhile, Ooi said the UMSU initially invited Suaram coordinator Nik Azura Nik Nasron to be a panellist but Wong took her place instead as she was unable to attend the event that morning.
This was supposedly taken by the university as grounds to terminate the forum, as UMSU did not have the university’s approval to invite Wong to speak.
Ooi claimed UMSU also wanted to invite the activist and graphic designer Fahmi Reza to the panel, but UM’s Student Affairs Department vehemently opposed this, saying that Fahmi has “absolutely no merit”.
The students were told to find someone of “higher stature” instead.
“I don't think this should happen. Why does the administration have the right to choose who is suitable to be a speaker and who is not suitable as a panellist? This is unreasonable.
“This is suppressing our speakers’ freedom of expression, and also academic freedom,” he said.
Ooi said the university’s approach has led to poor judgement and a lack of critical thinking among students, which contributed to the university’s decline in international rankings.
He also cited the event where the university administration stopped UMSU from organizing a debate in May.
“Why not let the students listen and judge for themselves? As a university, UM denied and restricted its students from accessing knowledge,” he said.
About 20 student representatives turned up at UMSU’s press conference, including International Islamic University of Malaysia Students’ Union president Aliff Naif Mohd Fizam, vice-president Rafiq Shahmie, and Monash University Students’ Union president Dominic Lee, who came to show their solidarity.
Previously, during his graduation on Oct 14, 2019, Wong staged a protest against then UM vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim for allegedly uttering racist remarks at the Malay Dignity Congress a week earlier.
UM subsequently lodged a police report against Wong, who was charged under Section 504 of the Penal Code for his protest.
The trial is ongoing at the Magistrates’ Court in Kuala Lumpur. - Mkini
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