May you never be silenced, Zaid salutes brave Sabah students

Summary

• Zaid lauds Sabah students at a recent protest for remaining fearless in the face of risks.

• Ex-minister calls them the “heartbeat of a better Malaysia”.

Zaid Ibrahim has lauded the students involved in a recent demonstration in Sabah, saying it is courage that will save the nation.

In a social media post addressed to “all the students in our universities,” the former law minister said the Sabah students were aware of the risks but remained fearless.

“Who will speak against the power abusers if not them? For the stateless children forgotten by our system. For the migrant workers who build our cities but are denied dignity. For the whistleblowers punished for telling the truth. For the poor rakyat struggling just to get by.

“Who will give up their comfort to fight for the oppressed, if not the young? Who will shatter the chains of a slave mentality and inspire a new kind of patriotism rooted in justice? Only the students. Only the brave.

“That is why I salute the youth of Sabah - and all our young Malaysians in universities across the country. You are the heartbeat of a better Malaysia. May you never be silenced,” he added.

‘Heartbeat of a better Malaysia’

Zaid emphasised that the nation cannot rest its fate in the hands of those in power clinging to privilege or political parties who do nothing different.

“It will be saved by the rakyat - those brave enough to stand up and be counted. Not cowed by threats. Not silenced by police summonses. Not broken by prison walls.

“Who will raise the conscience of this nation and remind us of what empathy means? Who will shatter the chains of a slave mentality and inspire a new kind of patriotism rooted in justice?

“Only the students. Only the brave. That is why I salute the youth of Sabah - and all our young Malaysians in universities across the country. You are the heartbeat of a better Malaysia. May you never be silenced. May you never give in,” he added.

Zaid also named the three student activists - Fadhil Kasim, Aliff Danial Badrul Akmal Hisham, and Sabir Syarafuddin - who are being investigated under the Sedition Act over the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally, which saw the burning of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s caricature.

Yesterday, Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir said Anwar does not wish for Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to expel its students.

Prime minister’s aide Tunku Nashrul Abaidah said Anwar, as a former activist, is well aware that “harsh criticisms” are crucial in celebrating democracy.

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