Persatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (PMUM) president Fahmi Zainol was given only two minutes to speak at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia last night.

 

Fahmi, was invited by the Gabungan Mahasiswa Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (GMUKM) to speak in the event titled ‘Reform of the students’ struggles’.

 

GMUKM president Abdul Kahar Hamzah said other student leaders were similarly given only two minutes each to speak at the university’s Speaker’s Corner.

 

In a letter addressed to all faculty deans and residential college principals, UKM student affairs deputy vice-chancellor Noor Aziah Mohd Awal said students were forbidden to be involved in the event as it was not registered with the university.

 

Noor Aziah said GMUKM was a non-registered student group and there was no application made to organise the event.

 

However, Abdul Kahar argued that students are allowed to speak at the Speaker’s Corner without obtaining the university’s permission.

 

"This shows the university administration’s immaturity when we are only making speeches at the speaker’s corner,” he said.

 

He said only the university’s main gates were opened as the security personnel were ordered to check every car entering UKM from 9pm onwards.

 

"The security personnel pushed students as well as tried to confiscate the microphones from students who were giving speeches,” said Abdul Kahar.

 

Apart from about 25 of the university’s security personnel who prevented the student leaders from speaking at length, five police officers were also present.

 

However, Abdul Kahar confirmed with Malaysiakini that the police merely took recordings of the event and did not chase the students from the venue.

 

Claiming that 300 students had attended the programme, Abdul Kahar then challenged the university to state the reasons why the event was banned.

 

Fahmi, on Monday, had organised a talk given by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim at Universiti Malaya.

 

Students and supporters had stormed the university gate and broke the lock after they were prevented from entering the university.

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