The Malaysia Academic Movement (Gerak) criticised the police for summoning three undergraduates and an academic for speaking at a press conference over allegations of an academic accused of sharing nude photographs of himself with female students.
“We believe this move is made to intimidate the innocent.
“Why are the authorities these days increasingly and deliberately barking up the wrong tree, intimidating and punishing good Malaysians, often victims, and letting the real offenders off the hook so easily?” Gerak asked in a statement today.
The four are Universiti Malaya Feminism Club (UMFC) president Chin Jes Weng, UM gender studies master’s graduate spokesperson S Indramalar, UM Academic Staff Association executive council member Aznijar Yazid, and Wong Xiao You of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.
On Dec 16 last year, UMFC claimed that a professor at the university had escaped action despite multiple reports of alleged sexual harassment, which included sending nude photos of himself to students.
“According to anonymous student sources, the professor has a history of sexual harassment allegations and has been reported by students before, but the university has yet to act,” the group said, adding that this was allegedly due to his influential position within the department.
On Dec 23, UM confirmed that the academic had been interdicted but one of his alleged victims claimed the professor can still be seen roaming about the campus area.

In a twist of events, the police are investigating the quartet for their press conference on Jan 20 for allegedly violating the Peaceful Assembly Act.
‘Aznijar a good man’
Unimpressed, Gerak said academics are duty-bound to educate and liberate young minds.
The group stressed that any act by an academic to exploit and sexually harass their students is unacceptable.
“Letting such an offender get away lightly, as the UM authorities evidently have done is not only regrettable but also a contemptible act,” Gerak said.
In defence of Aznijar, Gerak said the fellow Gerak executive committee member is a highly principled academic who is active in UM's academic staff association - where he serves as its deputy president.
“We support Aznijar's actions - delivering a statement in a peaceful manner - as something appropriate, reflecting the concerns of many at a time when we are being pressured by irresponsible, self-serving ‘leaders' to treat ‘wrong as right'.
“And as Aznijar has shown, we will not bow to these pressures.” - Mkini
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