PETALING JAYA: An estimated 300 students boycotted their classes to attend a peaceful assembly on Wednesday, as support for Universiti Malaya law lecturer Azmi Sharom, who was recently charged with sedition.
The group, known as Universiti Malaya Students Associations (PMUM) together with politicians and academicians marched peacefully from the law faculty building and other faculties also joined in the assembly at the main bus stop area also known as the old speaker's corner, as a form of protest against the charges against Azmi and in support of academic freedom.
The protest started at 12.30, and included a series of short lectures by students, academicians and politicians. Echoes of 'Mansuhkan Akta Hasutan' (Abolish sedition act) and academic freedom were heard throughout the protest. Students were also holding placards and banners supporting Azmi.
Opposition politicians Puchong MP Gobind Singh, Damansara Utama Adun Yeo Bee Yin, Segamat MP Lim Lip Eng and Selangor State Assembly deputy speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also attended the protest.
Universiti Malaya law lecturer Dr Azmi, a columnist for The Star, was charged on Sept 2 with sedition over comments made on an online portal regarding the 2009 Perak crisis.
He claimed trial after being charged under Section 4(1)(b) and Section 4(1) (c) of the Sedition Act 1948.
Earlier, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had urged UM students to refrain from skipping classes and lectures for the protest.
He commended their decision to support Azmi, but said they should not do it at the expense of their studies.
“I hope they will not boycott their lectures even though they wish to support their lecturer.
“You can express support, but not to the extent of disrupting your studies,” Khairy said, adding that the students were too driven by idealism.
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