Shameful! Amnesty slams Anwar, Madani as student voices silenced

Amnesty International Malaysia has slammed the police probe into the Universiti of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany), reminding Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of his promise to protect student voices.

“If every call for change risks a police probe, then what’s the point of claiming to be a country that upholds free speech?

“Malaysians shouldn’t have to sanitise their opinions just to avoid trouble. This has to stop,” said Amnesty Malaysia’s freedom of expression campaigner Kiran Kaur in a hard-hitting statement.

She also pointed out that despite Anwar’s repeated promises, the same laws are being used to silence students.

“Words aren’t enough. Until these repressive laws are repealed or reformed in line with international human rights standards, freedom of expression in Malaysia will remain under attack,” she added.

Kiran said students are supposed to question, debate and challenge policies, emphasising that this is what education is about.

“Threatening them with criminal investigations just for speaking up is a shameful act by the Madani government,” she added.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said police will summon relevant parties as part of an investigation into Umany for calling for the abolition of the national matriculation programme.

Police said the remarks risked damaging public perception of the national education system, sparking dissatisfaction among certain groups, and stirring public anxiety.

Journalist questioned

The case is being probed under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which covers statements likely to cause public alarm, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 on the misuse of network facilities or services.

Section 505(b) carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, while Section 233 provides for a fine of up to RM500,000, a jail term of up to two years, or both.

Earlier today, police recorded a statement from Malaysiakini journalist Shakira Buang over the article quoting Umany president Tang Yi Ze, urging the Higher Education Ministry to abolish the matriculation programme and adopt the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) as the sole qualification for public university entry.

Umany has since apologised, explaining that it chose the wrong term to suggest a merger with the STPM examination.

On Sept 12, Umany submitted a memorandum to the Higher Education Ministry highlighting the proposal as the most effective way to address concerns over admission quotas.

The memorandum was submitted in response to media reports on STPM leaver Edward Wong, who scored a 4.0 CGPA in the examination and aspired to be an accountant, only to be rejected by six public universities.

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