Universitys expulsion of student activist slammed

comments     K Kabilan     Published     Updated

The expulsion of a second-year electrical engineering student yesterday from a local university over his involvement in an anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) demonstration was unfair, premature and uncivilised, said the youth wing of PRM today.

Muhammad Ali Syed Hussein, spokesperson of the party's youth section's education wing, said the Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara (UiTM) disciplinary committee dished out the sentencing yesterday without allowing Rafzan Ramli to exercise his legal right to defend himself.

"UiTM's uncivilised decision in not having a fair trial will only bring disrepute to the university," said Muhammad Ali.

Rafzan was dismissed after a hearing for taking part in the demonstration on June 8 calling for an end to the ISA, which allows detention without trial.

Seven students, including Rafzan, were arrested and held at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters for the night and released on police bail the next day.

This prompted UiTM to initiate action against Rafzan for jeopardising the reputation of the institution by participating in the demonstration.

The hearing was originally fixed on June 15 but was postponed to two weeks following Rafzan's request that he needed more time to prepare his case.

But the university suddenly held its hearing yesterday and dismissed Rafzan although he had denied being involved in the demonstration and claimed that he was not given the chance to defend himself.

UiTM acted prematurely

Muhammad Ali said that UiTM should have acted fairly in the case, adding that Rafzan was only exercising his right accorded by the Federal Constitution to voice out his dissatisfaction over the use of the ISA.

"UiTM must realise it is an institution set up for the people and it must reflect the needs and wishes of the public and should not become the political tool of the government."

He also said that UiTM had acted prematurely as the police has yet to initiate any legal proceedings against Rafzan and that he had not been found guilty in the court over his participation at the demonstration.

"We fully support Rafzan's actions to defend his right for education and hope that the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and the courts will ensure that." said Muhammad Ali

Yesterday, Rafzam's legal counsel Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff said he was contemplating legal action against the university and to file a complaint today with Suhakam.



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