Probe UM for cancelling forum, PKR Youth urges MOHE

Summary

• PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim urges the Higher Education Ministry to investigate claims that Universiti Malaya had cancelled a forum yesterday, organised by Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah.

• He says no one should deny undergraduates their rights to debate current affairs, as long as it is done in a civil manner.

PKR Youth hurled brickbats at Universiti Malaya’s management for cancelling a forum yesterday, saying it was uncalled for.

“I urge the Higher Education Ministry to investigate this. We should not be denying undergraduates their rights to debate issues in a civil manner,” said its youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim on X today.

Kamil (above) said universities serve as a medium to promote open discussions on current affairs, rather than stifling them.

“Undergraduates must be given the space to give their views and opinions according to existing regulations.

“And this right should never be denied to them,” said the aide to Anwar Ibrahim, in the latter’s capacity as finance minister.

Yesterday, Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah urged UM’s Students’ Affairs division to apologise for suddenly disallowing their forum from being conducted on its premises.

Unprofessional behaviour

The forum, titled “Pelantikan Azam Baki, Wajar atau Tidak?”, was initially scheduled to be held at 8pm yesterday at UM’s Auditorium JHB.

The guests invited for the forum were political economist Edmund Terence Gomez, Bersih chairperson Faisal Aziz, Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia’s Yuveraaj Pillai and Suara Siswa UM’s Thishant Sai Sugaythran.

“Not only was our event cancelled without proper written notice, but we also had to deal with their unprofessional behaviour.

“When we tried to seek an explanation, they were cavalier about it.

“Apart from being embarrassing, it reflects how they prioritise bureaucracy and their convenience over students’ rights,” the secretariat added.

The secretariat then changed its forum venue to Rumah Mandiri in Petaling Jaya.

Malaysiakini has reached out to UM for clarification.

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