Top debater Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is donating his national cash award received from Prime Minister Najib Razak's hand last year, to the student activist suspended and fined by Universiti Malaya (UM) over the Tangkap MO1 rally.

"I remember, when I was asked by the media about the RM10,000 that I had received.

"I promised I would use the money to champion the right to free speech, as that is the reason I received the award," Syed Saddiq said in a statement today.

Najib presented Syed Saddiq the award on behalf of the government, at a ceremony last year to honour the top debater's achievements.

"Najib, who at the time congratulated me for sweetening the country's name in the field of debate, is now making every effort to stitch up the mouths of the people who are brave enough to oppose him," he said.

Based on his promise upon receiving the Youth award, Syed Saddiq, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Youth chief, said he would donate the RM10,000 to UM activist Anis Syafiqah Md Yusof to champion free speech.

UM has suspended and fined Anis over her role as organiser of the Tangkap MO1 rally in Kuala Lumpur last August.

Two other student activists, Mohd Luqman Hakim Fazli and Mohamad Luqman Nul Haqim Zul Razali were also suspended for a semester and fined RM400, while Suhail Wan Azhar only received a fine.

Students 'not politicians'

"They are not from any political party. They're not from DAP, not from PAS.

"And they are not from Bersatu," said Syed Saddiq.

"They are merely young activists who want the right to free speech.

"They are an asset to the country and should be supported, not punished. They are heroes and heroines of Malaysia," he said.

The youth leader said his donation is an "investment" to strengthen the youth movement for the sake of the country, and stressed his act was a personal one and has nothing to do with Bersatu.

The Tangkap MO1 rally saw a gathering of some 2,000 students, who called for action against the figure named 36 times in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) forfeiture suits as 'Malaysian Official 1' (MO1).

The suits are part of the largest anti-kleptocracy drive by the US to date, and aims to seize assets and expenditures the DOJ claims had been embezzled from 1MDB.