The Malaysian Insider – 5 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
- UM students who staged protest during Obama visit hit out at show-cause letters
Four Universiti Malaya students who were issued show-cause letters for holding a protest during US President Barack Obama's visit to the campus two weeks ago have demanded an explanation from the institution on the notices.
Fahmi Zainol, Leong Yu Sheng, Lee Jin Yang and Anis Nabihah Alias had staged a protest against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement talks when Obama was attending the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative at the university last month.
Yesterday, the quartet received show-cause letters from the university’s Student Affairs Division.
"We have been asked to explain our actions in protesting during Obama's visit on April 27," Fahmi told a press conference today.
"We were told that displaying and holding up the placards during Obama's visit contravened the university's rules."
Fahmi said they were accused of tarnishing and damaging the university's reputation with their actions.
"If we fail to give an explanation within seven days, disciplinary action will be taken against us," Fahmi added.
He said the UM vice-chancellor had erred in issuing show-cause letters against them.
"The UM students who had asked Obama foolish and stupid questions during the townhall initiative should be given show-cause letters instead.
"Their silly and irrelevant questions reflect badly on Universiti Malaya and the country's education system," Fahmi added.
Lee said the Student Affairs Division was irrelevant, saying it was abusing its authority instead of managing student affairs.
"Lately, Student Affairs has been more interested in clamping down on freedom of speech, academic and society freedom," he said.
Lee cited the case of Mohd Fathihie Gadius, a University Teknologi Mara (UiTM) student who was recently slapped with disciplinary proceedings after posting a protest against the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on his Facebook page.
Fahmi said they were prepared to take legal action against the university pending legal advice.
"Putrajaya does not need to fear us, we are not criminals. If you are right, we will support you, but if you are wrong, we will reject you," Fahmi said.
Civil society groups who attended the gathering which featured Obama had expressed disappointment that participants dubbed "future leaders" who attended the event failed to make use of the opportunity to ask relevant questions.
They said the "future leaders" chose to ask Obama questions touching on "meaning of happiness" and his "greatest regrets", instead of asking about US foreign policy and transgressions of rule of law in Malaysia.
Isis Malaysia assistant director of foreign policy and security studies Elina Noor said that she had hoped the questions were more pointed and related to current affairs as opposed to being broad-based and philosophical. – May 9, 2014.
