SUARAM CALLS UM VC TO RESIGN
WHEN YOU MIX POLITICS WITH EDUCATION
It's better for the VC to quit if he cannot accept criticism, suggested Suaram
Abdul Rahim Hashim, Universiti Malaya Vice-Chancellor |
SUARA RAKYAT MALAYSIA (Suaram) has called for the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Universiti Malaya Abdul Rahim Hashim to resign if he is unable to take criticism from students or is unwilling to provide a safe space for students to engage in discourse.
Saying that they were purturbed by the police report lodged by UM following the protest by Wong Yan Ke during a convocation ceremony, Suaram believed that others should lead and develop UM as an academic institution that promotes critical discourse among its students.
"Universiti Malaya and all universities are supposed to be a safe space where students and youth are given a safe space to learn, debate and develop their ideas.
"As part of this process, any critique against policies through protest or civil disobedience is to be expected and welcomed, so long it does not promote violence against others," Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said in a statement today, Wednesday 16 October 2019.
On Monday 14 October 2019, UM lodged a police report against Wong Yan Ke after he staged a solo protest calling for the resignation of the varsity's VC Abdul Rahim Hashim.
Wong had allegedly shouted "Ini Tanah Malaysia" (this is Malaysia land) while carrying a placard with the words "Tolak Rasis" (reject racism) and "Undur VC" (step down VC) on stage during his graduation after he received his degree scroll.
He said it was done to protest the VC's recent speech at the Malay Dignity Congress in Shah Alam and claimed that the speech was racially charged and as a graduate, he had a right to criticise and call for the individual to be courteous.
The Malay Dignity Congress was organised by four public universities - UM, UPSI, UPM and UiTM - to discuss and find solutions to problems faced by the Malays.
Sevan said the position adopted by UM only shows that the management of the university has not progressed at all, despite the change of policies by the Ministry of Education.
by Fauzi Kadir ° Permadu Malaysia
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