Fear is a deadly tool in quashing dissent. It if is not addressed well, it will spiral into the creation of institutionalised fear which quashes dissent for generations to come. The failure to act at the beginning will be costly for the future.

It’s unsurprising that the government took up the very same tactic to quell the Tangkap MO1 protest. Prior to the protest, public university students were threatened with disciplinary action if they were to partake in the protest. Flyers were distributed in UKM and the notice went viral on Social Media. Three of the activists were detained for three days for merely trying to create awareness in universities via peaceful means.

Post- rally, the organisers were hauled in by the police for questioning. The minister in charge of Mara threatened scholars who joined the peaceful protest. This tactic has been used times after times again to quell dissent. We saw it during BERSIH and during the uncalled for dismissal of the two Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) Malaysia student leaders for hosting a debate on the Goods and Services Tax (GST).