Chided by Umno bloggers for his alleged involvement in ‘Najib flag’ incident, Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah today clarified that his presence at the Umno headquarters last Saturday was merely to receive a memorandum from the protesting students.

“I only knew about the incident of taking down the flag through Twitter around one hour after I left Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) where the Umno headquarters is located.

“I immediately tweeted to say that if it really happens, it is an offence. I contacted the organisers and they admitted that it was done by one of their members, but the flag was hoisted back not long after that,” he explained in a statement today.

He also clarified that he agreed to receive the memorandum at PWTC with the hope that the students will end their demonstration after submitting the memorandum.

NONE Saifuddin (right) , a Umno supreme council member who is seen as more progressive and open-minded, came under heavy fire from several Umno bloggers for allegedly lending his support to the students, resulting in humiliation to Umno president Najib Abdul Razak.

Since the proposed amendment of Universities and University Colleges 1971 (UUCA), Saifuddin has been adopting an open approach to consult various stakeholders including anti-establishment students who demand that UUCA be abolished completely.

During the two-hour demonstration to demand greater academic freedom, some 500 protesters, most of them students, marched to the Umno headquarters at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, to submit a memorandum to Saifuddin.

Shortly afterwards, the students pulled down a flag bearing the image of Najib that was hanging outside the building. It is one in a series that depict the seven Umno presidents to date.

Ministry won't take action

The students replaced the flag with a banner reading ‘Bebaskan (liberate) academic freedom’ for about a minute, after which the Najib flag was hoisted again.

student handing memo to saifuddin abdullah on academic freedom The students’ action has been severely reprimanded by Umno leaders and supporters, describing it as “rude” and “uncivilised”.

In his statement, Saifuddin reiterated that the students should apologise to Najib.

“I support freedom of expression and new politics which is healthy and fresh for a maturing democracy. I also support student idealism and trust the students, but the action of taking down the flag does not represent these principles.

“Hence I strongly condemn this action and demand the responsible quarter to apologise to Najib,” he said.

However, the organisers - Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) and Gerakan Kebebasan Akademik (Bebas) - had declined the call to apologise, claiming it is their right of expression in making a statement.

According to Bernama , Saifuddin however said he left it to the police to investigate the case and promised the ministry would not be taking any action on them as the incident happened outside the campus.

"SMM and Bebas should apologise for their action as it was an abominable act," he told a press conference at Parliament lobby today.

On the other hand, a group of pro-establishment alumni calling themselves ‘Persatuan Alumni Pemimpin Mahasisiwa Aspirasi Malaysia’ is also organising a peaceful assembly in front of the Higher Education Ministry in Putrajaya at 2.30pm this Wednesday to back Najib and demand the resignation of Saifuddin.

“All students and alumni of all higher education institutions nationwide are invited to express their support to Najib as Malaysia’s Prime Minister to continue to lead the nation, and urge Saifuddin to resign from his cabinet post because he has disgraced the good name of the nation’s top leader.

“Let’s show that we are the majority who want Najib to continue to govern the nation,” read the media invitation sent out by the group.

 

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