Six Universiti Malaya (UM) students today showed up before the university's disciplinary committee to answer charges of organising an unauthorised press conference on the campus last year.

The conference was held to protest against the UM's proposal to impose a five gigabyte a month quota on free Internet on the campus.

The six are Universiti Malaya Muslim Students Association (PMIUM) exco members Suhail Wan Azahar, Nur Hananie Chow Abdullah, Fahmie Nuaiman, and Muhammad Luqman, together with Universiti Malaya Association Youth (Umany) president Ho Chi Yang and vice-president Chua Hun Chi.

They arrived at about 2.30pm for the hearing which was held at the Student Affairs Department.

They were accompanied by seven staff and student representatives.

As the hearing was about to start, security guards initially barred student alliance group Progressive UM secretary-general Vince Tan from entering to represent the students.

The guards said the management has ordered that only 12 people be allowed in.

Suhail then accompanied Tan outside the door to show solidarity. But minutes later, Tan was allowed to attend the proceeding.

Some 15 students also turned up to show solidarity for the six.

They carried placards that read “Arrested because talk wifi”, “Release UM6” and “Solidarity with UM6”. Some wore green mask to symbolise the silencing of freedom of speech.

Kesatuan Mahasiswa Malaysia (Kesatuan) chairperson, Azzan Aznan Abdul Rahim, who read a statement supporting the six, said 57 students were facing charges under University and University College Act (UUCA) and Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976.

“Those who were required to attend the (disciplinary) proceeding were exercising their rights as Malaysian citizens to peaceful assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of association, which are guaranteed under Federal Constitution.”

Azzan submitted four recommendations:

  • the UM management withdraw the charges against the six. As the validity of UUCA validity is being challenged in court, the university should put the proceeding on hold;
  • Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) should take a stand and condemn UM for infringing the students' rights to freedom of speech and assembly;
  • A special committee be set up to review the university disciplinary rules which may breach the rights of students; and
  • the government must abolish UUCA and Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976 to restore university autonomy.

Last December, PMIUM and Umany claimed the university planned to limit free internet quota at five gigabyte as the Higher Education Ministry was facing budget cut.

However, UM vice-chancellor Mohd Amin Jalaludin has denied the allegation.

The six students, who held the press conference to protest the proposal, were given show-cause letters in early January.

Subsequently, UM said the six were found to have committed disciplinary offences under Section 16C of University Malaya (Disciplinary Proceedings) 1999