"Tangkap MO1" students take Universiti Malaya to court

NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Four Universiti Malaya (UM) students, who were found guilty of participating in the "Tangkap MO1" rally held in Aug, initiated legal action to challenge the validity of the university's disciplinary rules today.

Students Anis Syafiqah Md Yusof, 24, Mohamad Luqman Nul Haqim Zul Razali, 23, Suhail Wan Azhar, 22, and Muhammad Luqman Hakim Mohd Fazli, 22, filed an originating summons seeking a declaration that UM’s (Discipline of Students) Rules 1999 is unconstitutional.

In their action, they are requesting a proclamation that Section 15 (3)(b) of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971; and Regulations 3 and 13 of the UM (Discipline of Students) Rules, which do not prohibit students from exercising their right to freedom of speech and expression and to participate in demonstrations, have contravened Article 10 (2) of the Federal Constitution.

The four filed their legal action through Messrs Foo Woei & Co at the High Court registrar here this morning.

Also named as defendants in their suit are the Higher Education minister and the government.

On Dec 15, Anis, Mohamad Luqman Nul Haqim, Suhail and Muhammad Luqman Hakim were found guilty by UM for disciplinary offences linked to the Aug 27 rally held in the city centre.

Apart from being suspended for one semester and fined RM400 each, the four were also issued warnings.

The sentences were read by the Students Disciplinary Committee head Professor Dr Azizah Hamzah.

Anis, who is a final year student in language and linguistics; and the three others, who are in their third and final year in Islamic Studies, were allowed to sit for their exams.

However, Anis, who is supposed to graduate in the next semester, will have to defer her graduation with the suspension in place.

The four students were represented by lawyer Marcus Tan Kian Han.