Selangor vows to take in UM rebels if expelled
Selangor exco member Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has vowed that the state’s educational institutions will take in the eight Universiti Malaya students if they are expelled for organising last month’s rally for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on campus.
Selangor exco member Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has vowed that the state’s educational institutions will take in the eight Universiti Malaya students if they are expelled for organising last month’s rally for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on campus.
“If UM decides to punish them harshly by suspending or expelling these students, I will do my best, as a Selangor exco member, to ensure that they are given the opportunity to continue their studies in other universities such as Universiti Selangor (Unisel) or Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor (Kuis),” he said in a statement today.
Nik Nazmi, who is in charge of education in Selangor, warned that if UM goes ahead with disciplinary action against the students, now known as the ‘UM8', it will reflect poorly on the university.
The students, led by Universiti Malaya Student’s Union (PMUM) president Fahmi Zainol ( right ), had on Oct 27 invited Anwar to campus, a day before the Anwar’s sodomy appeal at the Federal Court.
UM had attempted to block the event by cutting power to parts of the campus and locking down the university, but students stormed the gates to their intended venue at Dewan Tunku Canselor.
Fahmi, in an interview with Malaysiakini , later said he did not endorse the storming of the gates and denied UM students were responsible, claiming that it have been done by outsiders who were there to support Anwar.
Nik Nazmi said UM’s bid to punish the students under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 is an attempt to “restrain young minds from discussing and expressing their opinions”.
Fahmi was slapped with nine charges , the most among the eight students, and was summoned by UM to answer to a disciplinary hearing today.
Fahmi will have to answer to the university for organising, holding and attending a rally without the vice-chancellor’s permission; damaging the university’s reputation; and possessing and using a megaphone without approval.
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