Law? professor Azmi Sharom 'denied' entry into UKM campus

BANGI: Law‎ professor Dr Azmi Sharom was reportedly barred from entering the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) campus on Wednesday night. 

According to online news reports, Dr Azmi was invited by Gabungan Mahasiswa UKM (GMUKM) to launch an anti-Sedition Act movement at UKM's campus in Bangi which was scheduled at 8.30pm. 

Dr Azmi was reported as saying that he had to “sneak” into the venue when he discovered multiple roadblocks preventing him from entering the campus.

Dr Azmi, who is a columnist for The Star, was quoted as saying that he was told to leave by the security guards after reaching the venue, where hundreds of students were reportedly present.

According to the Universiti Malaya law professor, the security guards did not give any reasons but merely said that the event was banned by UKM’s management. 

The student movement later converged at a car park outside the campus where Dr Azmi gave a brief talk.

On Wednesday, the Sessions Court had referred Dr Azmi's constitutional challenge of his charge under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 to the High Court.

His case was fixed for mention on Nov 7.

Dr Azmi, 45, had applied for an order that the Sessions Court refer his sedition case to the High Court for its determination over the constitutionality of Section 4(1).

His legal team had on Sept 17 challenged the constitutionally of  Section 4(1) of the Act, arguing that as a pre-Merdeka law, it could not restrict freedom of speech.

Dr Azmi had claimed trial on Sept 2 to making alleged seditious comments about the Perak crisis in an online news portal article.

He was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act, with an alternative charge under Section 4 (1)(c) of the same Act.

He faces a maximum fine of RM5,000 or jail not exceeding three years or both.