Let’s join students in Occupy UM, PR leaders tell activists

(Malay Mail Online) – Opposition lawmakers today called on political and civil society leaders to join a group of students camping out in front of Universiti Malaya (UM) protesting the suspension of two of their peers.

PKR’s Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli (pic)  and Kuala Krai MP Dr Hatta Ramli of PAS said politicians and representatives from NGOs and activist groups could take turns to sit in solidarity with the students, who are protesting the varsity’s decision to suspend Fahmi Zainol and Safwan Shamsuddin over an unauthorised talk featuring opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“The management of Universiti Malaya should focus on improving the quality of education and humanity that is inculcated by the university, not clamp down on the voice and activities of undergraduates,” Rafizi and Dr Hatta said in a joint statement.

The two lawmakers said they are currently working with PKR’s Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar to gather the signatures of all Pakatan Rakyat MPs in support of a protest note that they plan to submit to UM’s management next Tuesday.

Rafizi has also volunteered to join the students in their “occupation” of UM, stating that he will camp out with them this Sunday starting at 11pm.

A group of UM students yesterday vowed to camp out in protest in front of their campus gates until the university retracts its punishment of Fahmi and Safwan, who were also slapped with fines of RM600 and RM300 respectively.

The suspension order comes just weeks before the youths’ final examination.

On October 27, Anwar, the 67-year-old PKR de-facto leader, managed to enter campus grounds and address a massive crowd of students — despite a downpour and lockdown of the campus — on the eve of the Federal Court’s appeal hearing over his second sodomy conviction and jail sentence.

The talk became a flashpoint for student activism, prompting students from various public institutions to stand up and demand for academic freedom as well as to speak up on bread and butter issues affecting regular Malaysians.