PSD scholars told not to go to Anwar event in Australia?
PKR has questioned whether the Public Services Department’s (PSD) Australian adviser has issued a “warning” to government scholars not to attend an event featuring PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in Adelaide on Saturday.
PKR has questioned whether the Public Services Department’s (PSD) Australian adviser has issued a “warning” to government scholars not to attend an event featuring PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in Adelaide on Saturday.
Its communications director Fahmi Fadzil (centre in photo), in a statement this morning, referred to a letter purportedly sent out by a student adviser for the PSD in Australia, who warned PSD scholars against attending the event at Adelaide University.
“I wouldn’t hesitate to take stern action (against) those (PSD scholars) who are involved. You know really well what you’ve signed into,” reads the letter, signed by one Shahrezan Sheriff.
Shahrezan was referring to Anwar’s programme at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas, entitled ‘Dissent and Democracy: An Audience with Anwar Ibrahim’.
The letter was also posted on the Facebook page of ‘Penasihat Pendidikan Latihan Australia’ on Oct 14.
“I would like to seek clarification from PSD, its adviser’s office, and the Malaysian consulate in New South Wales: is it true that this officer sent out such a letter?” Fahmi asked.
“Why the need to send this email, which is more of a warning than an advisory? Is it part of PSD’s standard operating procedure?
“If this email is true, those who are moderate and progressive within Umno should explain their stand on this matter.
“Why is Umno allowing this culture of suppressing the minds of undergraduates from growing, especially when an activity involves top Pakatan Rakyat leaders?"
Malaysiakini has contacted the PSD student advisory office in New South Wales and was told that Shahrezan Md Sheriff is indeed a student adviser there.
However, Shahrezan was not personally present in the office to verify if he had indeed sent out such an email.
He is also listed as an adviser on the Education Malaysia Australia (EMA) website and last year was a senior assistant director for the human model development (Pembangunan Modal Insan) division in the PSD.
According to a local student blog, Shahrezan was earlier responsible for handling applications for scholarships from STPM students.
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