KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — A group of Universiti Malaya (UM) students today sought to rouse support for a rally to “occupy” its campus this Friday when it university authorities will decide how they will punish eight scholars for organising an unauthorised talk by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Wan Nur Syamimi Wan Sajiri, the chair of the Sisters in Movement group, said over 100 students are expected to attend the “Occupy UM” event on Friday morning, but expressed hope that more including members of the public will attend in a show of solidarity.
“We are challenging the university to also charge all of us because clearly there were thousands of varsity students who want justice and academic freedom who were there that night,” she told reporters during a press conference at the university compound today.
The 22-year-old Physics and Islamic Studies student, who is also the deputy chairman of Pro Mahasiswa UM, said every student who attended the “Anwar Ibrahim: 40 Years from UM to Jail” event on October 27 should be charged to make the public aware of the alleged restrictions imposed on academic freedom and student affairs.
The eight students — also known as the UM8 — are Fahmi Zainol, Universiti Malaya Student president; student council vice-president Haw Yu Hong; student council secretary-general Nur Syamimi Munirah; PMUM international and corporate chairman Adam Fistival Wilfrid; chairman of the council’s policy and law Abraham; Pro-Mahasiswan chairman Safwan Shamsuddin; president of the university’s Muslim Students Association Khairol Najib; and Khairul Anwar.
The group face possible fines, suspension or even expulsion for their role in the event that the UM management deemed illegal.
Today, Progressive University of Malaya secretary-general Vince Tan said there will also be talks at UM’s Speakers’ Corner, as well as theatre and music performances throughout the day.
The programme on Friday, which the students said has been approved by the university, is jointly organised by the UM Muslim Students Association (PMI), Universiti Malaya Pro-Mahasiswa group, which controls the student union, UM Association of New Youth (Umany) and Progressive University of Malaya.
Electoral watchdog Bersih and Gerakan Hapuskan Akta Hasutan (GHAH) have both pledged to show support on Friday.
The country’s oldest university initiated charges against Fahmi last week for his role in organising a campus talk featuring Opposition Leader Anwar ahead of the latter’s appeal against his sodomy conviction.
The event was not approved by the university’s vice chancellor, but students went ahead despite a downpour and a campus lockdown.
A group of university students also stormed past locked gates and security guards, and marched towards Dewan Tunku Canselor where the talk was held in darkness after UM earlier shut off power supply in what was alleged to be sabotage.
Anwar, an alumnus of UM, addressed thousands of students who gathered on the grounds opposite the Dewan Tunku Canselor, from the top of a truck using a microphone.
The university lodged a police report over the event the next day, claiming trespass and damage to property.
Four days later, the university issued Fahmi a letter listing nine transgressions, and told him to attend a disciplinary hearing on Friday at UM’s Perdana Siswa Complex.
Among the charges were for organising and attending a rally on campus that was “damaging or prejudicial to the interests, peace and reputation of the university.”
