Universiti Malaya student leaders, dubbed the UM8, may appeal to the Education Ministry in order for the charges made by the university against them to be dropped.

Universiti Malaya Students Association (PMUM) former president Fahmi Zainol said that this step will be undertaken should their appeal to the university fail.

“If our appeal fails today, we will go for a judicial review,” he told reporters before sending the appeal letter to the university’s deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs) today.   

Seven out of the eight students were found guilty for organising a campus rally on Oct 27 which featured opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as a key speaker, without the university’s permission.

Meanwhile, Fahmi claimed that the disciplinary proceedings against the group had erred when the prosecution team had failed to follow the relevant procedures.

This includes the disciplinary committee’s chairperson Zanariah Abdullah’s involvement. She was appointed from the student affairs department as one of the proceedings’ panel members.

“She should not have held the role of prosecutor or a panel member who will decide whether I am guilty or not.

“Due to the conflict of interest, no one from the student affairs department or the vice-chancellor’s office should play a role as prosecutor or judge,” he said.

The appeal letter was received by a representative from the deputy vice chancellor’s office and a representative from the student affairs department at around 11.30am today.

Fahmi ( left ) was suspended for two consecutive semesters and fined RM600, while UM Pro-Mahasiswa president Safwan Shamsuddin had to sit out one semester and pay a fine of RM300.

Four others - Adam Fistival Wilfrid, Haw Yu Hong, Khairul Anwar and Syamimi Munira Mohamed - were fined RM150 and issued a warning. Abraham Au was found not guilty.