Kon Hua En, the president of University Malaya (UM) Association of New Youth (Umany), said some pro-establishment student leaders had betrayed their peers by upholding the “draconian” Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku).
The student leaders he was referring to are UM student representative council president Hazwan Syafiq, University Kebangsaan Malaysia student representative council president Zainal Asnawi Asyraf, and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Upsi) president Muhammad Syahmi Aiman Sulaiman.
They had, in a report by Utusan Malaysia, expressed support for the suspension of four UM students — Anis Syafiqah, Muhammad Luqman Nul Haqim, Muhammad Luqman Hakim Mohd Fazli and Suhail Wan Azahar — for organising and participating in last August’s #TangkapMO1 rally.
“Syahmi said the punishment delivered by the university managements is reasonable and students need to learn a lesson from it.
“His remarks clearly show that he supports the university management loyally for disrespecting the Federal Constitution, while Syafiq claimed Auku helps students improve their patriotism.
“But how can Auku, that has been suppressing students’ freedom of expression and critical thinking, help produce quality leaders?
“Also, his statement is absolutely wrong as patriotism is not ‘love the government’.
“And Auku is used by the government to punish the patriotic students who fight for the betterment of the country,” said Kon in a statement today.
He added the remarks made by these student leaders clearly showed their willingness to be “government lackeys”.
There are plenty of other things that are wrong with Auku, he said, including the fact that it allowed room for alleged abuse by the government, which used the act to punish students who dared to organise anti-establishment assemblies.
He said this is unconstitutional as it takes away the public’s right to assemble peacefully.
“Asnawi said students should think rationally and not be involved in any demonstration which will jeopardise their future.
“But students are the leaders of tomorrow. If every student does not stand for what is right because of fear, what’s left for the country is just selfish youth who only care about their own well-being.
“In Malaysia, where the system of checks and balances has malfunctioned, what is so wrong with students voicing their concerns about the future of the country and speaking up against injustice by organising a rally?”
He added that the four suspended UM students are not a threat to the country, although at the moment they are treated such.