M'sian students in Australia stand with UM8
Malaysian Progressives in Australia (MPOZ)Published: Nov 6, 2014 6:37 AM | Updated: Nov 7, 2014 4:18 AM
Malaysian Progressives in Australia (MPOZ), a movement of Malaysian students in Australia, views with great concern recent developments surrounding the decision of Universiti Malaya (UM) administration to charge eight students (UM8) from Persatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (PMUM) pertaining to the forum entitled ‘Empat Puluh Tahun Dari UM ke Penjara’ which took place on campus on Oct 27, 2014 featuring UM alumnus and chief parliamentary Opposition Leader of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim.
As an elected body representing UM students, the right of PMUM and its representatives to organise events and invite speakers should be respected by the university administration, as should the right of students who choose to attend these events.
We view the ludicrous charges levelled by the university administration on the UM8, among them, a charge of using a loudspeaker without the vice-chancellor’s permission, as a desperate attempt to intimidate students.
As institutions of higher learning, universities should not prevent, but rather encourage students to express diverse ideas and opinions, in preparing them to brave the complex world that awaits them. To this end, students should be entitled to their right and freedom to express their views and to invite whomever they deem appropriate for their events.
Progressive young Malaysians in Australia view the move by the university administration as unhelpful and aimed at stifling critical and independent thinking among its students, aimed at intimidating students.
The UM8 have our utmost salutations and respect for their courage and bravery in standing up for their right and freedom. Any form of intimidation to suppress students and curb academic freedom should stop; we are committed to advocate for this cause.
We strongly condemn any authoritarian practice of intimidating students and urge the university administration to allow common sense to prevail and drop the ludicrous charges.
We invite all Malaysians to express their views on the matter to the vice-chancellor via email aminj@um.edu.my and cc solidarity. my.students@gmail.com.
The culture of fear should have no place in Malaysia - let us start by freeing our landmark academic institution.
As an elected body representing UM students, the right of PMUM and its representatives to organise events and invite speakers should be respected by the university administration, as should the right of students who choose to attend these events.
We view the ludicrous charges levelled by the university administration on the UM8, among them, a charge of using a loudspeaker without the vice-chancellor’s permission, as a desperate attempt to intimidate students.
As institutions of higher learning, universities should not prevent, but rather encourage students to express diverse ideas and opinions, in preparing them to brave the complex world that awaits them. To this end, students should be entitled to their right and freedom to express their views and to invite whomever they deem appropriate for their events.
Progressive young Malaysians in Australia view the move by the university administration as unhelpful and aimed at stifling critical and independent thinking among its students, aimed at intimidating students.
The UM8 have our utmost salutations and respect for their courage and bravery in standing up for their right and freedom. Any form of intimidation to suppress students and curb academic freedom should stop; we are committed to advocate for this cause.
We strongly condemn any authoritarian practice of intimidating students and urge the university administration to allow common sense to prevail and drop the ludicrous charges.
We invite all Malaysians to express their views on the matter to the vice-chancellor via email aminj@um.edu.my and cc solidarity. my.students@gmail.com.
The culture of fear should have no place in Malaysia - let us start by freeing our landmark academic institution.
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