PKR MP: PM fair and consistent on rights, critics should be too

Summary

• Segamat MP R Yuneswaran says Anwar Ibrahim has always been consistent in defending the right to peaceful assembly and satire.

• The PKR lawmaker also points out that the prime minister urged the police to review a travel ban on Fahmi Reza.

PKR lawmaker R Yuneswaran urged critics to be fair, pointing out that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has consistently upheld the right to peaceful assembly, satire, and student activism.

He was responding to Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir’s recent remarks that Anwar opposed Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s (UMS) decision to expel students involved in burning a caricature of the prime minister.

Zambry had said that the prime minister believed their education and future should take precedence.

“This is in keeping with a clear and consistent defence of the right to peaceful assembly, satire, and student activism taken by the premier, who himself was a student leader who was detained under the ISA for two years in 1974 when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the education minister,” said Yuneswaran in a statement.

The Segamat MP dismissed claims that Anwar’s stance was selective, stressing that the prime minister has always been vocal on these matters.

He noted that earlier this month, the prime minister instructed the police to review an alleged travel ban on political satirist Fahmi Reza.

“Anwar also spoke up in defence of Fahmi’s right to satire, saying last December that he did not believe the latter should be charged over a controversial artwork taking a swipe at Sabah governor Musa Aman’s previous corruption cases, on which he was discharged in 2020.”

Yuneswaran further noted that in February, Anwar announced that the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (Act 736) would be amended to better support those seeking to organise peaceful demonstrations.

“All of this reflects the prime minister’s commitment to openness and the spirit of reform, and I hope his critics will be fair in making statements on the matter,” he added.

Critique of Anwar govt, three nabbed

On Sunday, student protesters in Sabah capped off a 22-hour rally against corruption by burning a poster of Anwar, with the words “Madani protector of corrupt Sabahans”.

Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah spokesperson Fadhil Kasim said the banner symbolised a scathing critique of Anwar’s administration, which the group claimed had failed to uphold promises of institutional reforms.

Police have arrested three student activists under the Sedition Act over the protest and burning.

Kota Kinabalu district police chief Kasim Muda identified the three as Fadhil Kasim, Aliff Danial Badrul Akmal Hisham, and Sabir Syarafuddin.

Sabah anti-graft rally: Police arrest 3 student activists for sedition

Zambry says Anwar against expelling UMS students over image-burning

UMS protester: Anwar burned Tunku's book as a student in the 70s

UMS condemns burning of PM’s caricature, to lodge police report