Despite facing expulsion for organising a talk for Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, defiant Universiti Malaya students will again organise another such event on Wednesday.

 

This time, they are inviting Wahidah Salleh, a villager from Kampung Chubadak Tambahan who was evicted last Tuesday despite efforts by the students to block the authorities.

 

Universiti Malaya Students' Association (PMUM) president Fahmi Zainol said the event will provide Wahidah an opportunity to explain her predicament and also help raise funds for her to construct a new home.

 

"We ask that Wahidah explain the situation people like her are facing so that intellectuals can find a way to help her.

 

"Aside from that, we may also hold a fund raiser among those present - we want to help reduce her burden," he told Malaysiakini .

 

The talk which is to take place at on campus at Seventh Residential College's food court starting 9pm, is backed by student groups PMUM and UM Pro-Mahasiswa.

 

Fahmi said the university should not only be a place for education but also a platform to help the community.

 

"People say we are a lackey of Anwar (for inviting him previously) so now we are inviting Opah, whose home had been destroyed, to UM," he said.

 

Home demolished

 

70-year-old Wahidah, simply known as "Opah",  is currently living in a shack after her home was demolished by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall last Tuesday.

 

Wahidah had been living there for 45 years but did not possess legal recognition to occupy the land there.

 

Several students who have tried to block the eviction were also  arrested .

Fahmi was  slapped  with nine charges for last Tuesday's Anwar talk.

 

Among others, he is accused of holding and attending a rally without the vice-chancellor's permission; damaging the university's reputation; and possessing and using a megaphone without approval.

 

He has been ordered to answer the charges at a disciplinary hearing on Friday.

 

Seven other students are also facing action for their involvement in the rally.

 

Prior to the rally, UM had cut power to parts of the university and locked down the campus but students  stormed  the university gates, allowing Anwar's talk to be held at its intended place at Dataran Dewan Tunku Canselor.