KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Dec: Five Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Members of Parliament were prevented from entering the office of the University of Malaya (UM) Vice Chancellor to hand over a petition protesting the punishment on eight student leaders from the university (UM8).
These MPs are Nurul Izzah Anwar (Lembah Pantai), N Surendran (Padang Serai), Khalid Samad (Shah Alam), Teresa Kok (Seputeh) and Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru).
Nurul Izzah, who is also the KEADILAN Vice President, said that their visit today was notified in advance and it should have not have happened.
“I, as a local MPs, phoned earlier to state our intention to submit the petition with respect. There is no reason the security had to act this way.
“I was surprised because MPs were not allowed in the hall. This prevention shows disrespect for democracy also also civil (rights),” she said, taken from Keadilan Daily.
Nurul Izzah said that punishment against the seven students involved was done based on Section 15 of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) which is contrary with Malaysia’s Constitution for violating the freedom of expression.
Therefore, they urged that the disciplinary action imposed to be withdrawn.
“We once again urge for the disciplinary action imposed on the students in the prosecution related to the event on October 27 to be withdrawn by the university.
“This partisan action raises questions regarding the independence and professionalism of UM,” she said.
She also questioned how previously some Umno leaders were allowed in and spoke at the university, while Pakatan Leaders were penalised.
The petition which was signed by 42 Pakatan MPs was handed over to the Vice Chancellor’s representative because he was said to have been working outside the area.
Nurul Izzah also requested for the Vice Chancellor to personally respond to the content of the petition.
“We demand for the Vice Chancellor to personally answer and respond as soon as possible because we want professionalism,” she explained.
UM suspended the former President of PMUM, Fahmi Zainol for two semesters and fined him RM600.
Another student Safwan Shamsuddin, was fined RM00 and suspended for two semesters, and four others were given warning and fined RM150 each, while another student was released with a warning.
NS