VC joining Malay congress was last straw after string of issues, explains protesting activist
“I even took pictures with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Does that mean I am a double agent?”
(MMO) – University of Malaya (UM) engineering graduate Wong Yan Ke, currently embroiled in controversy for protesting at his convocation ceremony against vice-chancellor Datuk Abdul Rahim Rashid, said he had done so as a last resort.
The 23-year old alumni from Penang highlighted that during his time as a student activist, he and other fellow activists had protested about many issues, including increased tuition fees, student buses, campus WiFi, and others.
“We sent letters asking for meeting dates, as well as memorandums, to the vice-chancellor’s office. Despite numerous instances, they never responded to our demands,” he told reporters outside the Petaling police station, after providing a statement over the incident.
Accompanied by his legal counsel Asheeq Ali, Wong said those criticising him for protesting at the convocation on Monday have little inkling of what was going on.
“When you say correct place and time, tell me when is appropriate? The vice-chancellor himself has never wanted to answer to us students.
“In part, why I protested was to democratise the campus. He has never been held accountable to either us or the academics, and is only a puppet of the politicians,” he said.
