The Kuala Lumpur High Court today quashed Universiti Malaya's decision to issue fines and stern warnings to four students for displaying protest placards during a university talk organised by their Special Affairs Department two years ago on 1MDB.

Justice Azizah Nawawi in her decision said there was procedural non-compliance with Rule 54 of Universit Malaya (Discipline of Students) Rules 1999.

Hence, she allowed the students' judicial review application to dismiss the decision by UM's disciplinary authority.

She made no order as to costs.

However, Justice Azizah did not allow the students two other orders the first being for a declaration that the rules violate their right to freedom of expression.

The second declaration they wanted was that the provisions under the rules were unconstitutional as the disciplinary committee itself carried out the investigation, prosecution and adjudication.

The students were represented by lawyer Lim Wei Jiet and Abraham Au while UM was represented by Adam Abdullah.

It was reported the students were granted leave by Justice Azizah last September to have their judicial review application be heard on its full merits.

The students are former University Malaya Association of New Youth president Ho Chi Yang, current deputy president Tan Jia You, publicity bureau head Chua Hun Ti and secretary-general Lau Li Yang.

They were found guilty on three charges by the Universiti Malaya disciplinary committee and fined between RM200 to RM600 last May.

However, on appeal, they were let off with a "stern warning".

Lim explained that with today's decision, the stern warnings issued would not enter into their disciplinary records.

He commented that today's decision was correct as students in tertiary institutions should be allowed to have a discourse as they are the future leaders of the country.

The four students had carried placards with the words “1MDB pulangkan duit rakyat” (Return the people's money, 1MDB) at a town hall event at UM in October 2016.

1MDB is a state-owned fund which is beleaguered by heavy debts and missing monies and is the subject of a civil suit by the US Department of Justice which has termed it the world's largest case of kleptocracy.