PKR Youth leader moots dialogue after students burned PM caricature

Summary

• PKR Youth leader offers to mediate dialogue between Sabah student leaders and authorities following a protest where students burned a caricature of PM Anwar Ibrahim.

• Fadzli Roslan condemns the "extreme and uncivilised" protest, stating that freedom of expression must be exercised within ethical and legal bounds.

A PKR Youth leader has offered to be a "bridge" for dialogue between Sabah student leaders and relevant authorities, after an anti-corruption rally over the weekend ended with the premier’s image up in flames.

PKR Youth Education and Student Bureau chief Fadzli Roslan reaffirmed the wing’s support for student-led anti-corruption efforts but condemned what he called "extreme and uncivilised" methods of protest.

“Real change is born not of blind anger, but of principled strength, awareness and collective determination,” he said in a statement today.

The student activist group Suara Mahasiswa Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) torched an image of Anwar Ibrahim drawn on a banner with the phrase “Madani Pelindung Rasuah Sabah” (Madani Protector of Sabah Corruption), as a pointed critique of his alleged failure to deliver institutional reforms.

The group said the protest was also a response to Anwar’s recent call for youths to lead the fight against corruption.

However, Fadzli said such actions did not reflect intellectual maturity and would only invite negative perceptions of the student movement.

“Freedom of expression should not be used as an excuse to provoke or insult anyone,” he said, adding that while freedom of speech is guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, it must be exercised within ethical and legal limits.

“The student movement will only be respected and taken seriously if its demands are presented in a credible manner and supported by strong arguments," he said.

Debate challenge

Yesterday, PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim, who is also Anwar's aide at the finance ministry, described the image burning as not just “excessive and rude” but proof that the protesters had no valid arguments to make.

In response, Borneo Komrad founder Mukmin Nantang challenged Kamil to a debate over the students' demands for greater transparency in public institutions and firm action against corruption, as pressure mounts on authorities to charge Sabah assemblypersons implicated in a graft scandal.

Last week, MACC chief Azam Baki said charges would soon be filed against two Sabah assemblypersons and a civilian, believed to be linked to the state’s mineral mining licence corruption scandal.

Earlier today, UMS management said it was not involved in the rally and would lodge a police report over the burning stunt.

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COMMENT | I'm ashamed over young activists' banner burning