UMLS to sit out pro-Azmi rally to remain 'impartial'
The University Malaya Law Society (UMLS) today explained that it decided not to participate in a rally in support of charged UM law lecturer Azmi Sharom as it wants to remain "impartial".
The University Malaya Law Society (UMLS) today explained that it decided not to participate in a rally in support of charged UM law lecturer Azmi Sharom as it wants to remain "impartial".
"Although it was imperative to work towards the fulfilment of justice, we will still remain impartial towards any partisan causes," it said in a statement posted on their Facebook page yesterday.
"UMLS is an official student body under the purview of the Faculty of Law, UM.
"The members of this student body consists of more than 400 law undergraduates who all have differing views in any issue of significant legal importance,” it reasoned.
It was responding to backlash received on its Facebook page and from fellow student group UM Association of New Youth (Umany) for saying that it will sit out the rally despite declaring solidarity for Azmi (above), who was charged with sedition on Tuesday.
Other democratic avenues
UMLS said that although it will not attend the rally co-organized by the UM Academic Staff Union (PKAUM) and the Malaysian Academic Movement (Move), it is progressively looking for other democratic avenues for action.
"We are looking for other avenues to act democratically while staying true to the impartiality of this student body.
"So, UMLS urge all members in the legal fraternity to be with Azmi for his next hearing on Oct 3," it said.
The law society also urges for all charges against Azmi to be dropped and for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to fulfill his promise to repeal the Sedition Act.
Meanwhile, UM student union (PMUM), who will join the rally, expressed disappointment over the guilty verdict against former UM student activist Safwan Anang (above) .
“We do not want students and UM’s academic staff to be silenced,” he said, urging all to participate in the one-hour rally near the old Speaker’s Corner next Wednesday.
Azmi on Tuesday claimed trial to sedition over remarks he made in a report in the Malay Mail Online on the ongoing Selangor menteri besar issue.
Safwan, meanwhile, was sentenced to 10 months’ jail for seditious remarks made during a speech on May 13, 2013.
He was accused of encouraging people to topple a legitimate government
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