UM students at Anwar’s talk may be expelled

(NST) – UNIVERSITI Malaya (UM) students who participated in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s talk at the campus last Monday may face expulsion.

UM Media and Corporate Unit head Izzad Zalman Abd Kader said nine students were asked to attend a disciplinary hearing at the campus on Friday.

“The disciplinary hearing is the first step for the university. It is the platform for them to defend themselves. The actions to be taken depend on the outcome of the hearing.”

Izzad said the lightest punishment expected was a warning letter issued to the participants.

“However, if the board finds their offence to be extremely serious, the maximum punishment will be to expel the students.”

He said the management was in the midst of identifying the students who had participated in the “illegal gathering”.

“We are not only reviewing the closed-circuit television footage, but also videos and pictures posted on the event.”

Izzad said police were conducting their own investigation while the university was conducting an internal one. However, he said, the management was ready to give full cooperation to the force.

On Friday, UM Student Council president Fahmi Zainol, who was the organiser for the “40 Years: From University of Malaya to Jail” event, had received a letter stating that he faced nine charges under the Universities and University Colleges Act.

It was reported that eight others had also received the letters, each facing different charges for violation of the act.

Last Monday, more than 500 participants forced open the university’s main gates despite the shutdown to allow Anwar to enter his alma mater and address the crowd.

The event was deemed illegal by UM’s management and police reports were lodged over the trespassing.