UM suspends, fines student leaders over Anwar event

A file picture of protestors barging through Universiti Malaya

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Malaya (UM) has suspended and fined two of eight students, known as UM8, for organising an illegal gathering that saw Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim entering the campus without the university's approval.

UM said in a statement Wednesday that former UM Undergraduates Association (PMUM) president Fahmi Zainol had been found guilty of four charges and fined RM150 for each charge. He has also been suspended for two semesters.

UM Pro-Mahasiswa president Safwan Shamsuddin was found guilty of two charges and received a total RM300 fine. He has also been suspended for two semesters

Four other students – Adam Fistival Wilfrid, Muhamad Khairul Anwar, Haw Yu Hong and Nurul Syamimi Munira – were found guilty of one charge each. They were all given stern warnings and fined RM150 each.

Khairol Najib was found guilty of one charge but was let off with no punishment, and Abraham Au Tian Hui was found not guilty.

“Proceedings which took place yesterday were handled by the Student Disciplinary Committee that was represented by three senior university academics,” said UM media head Izzad Zalman.

Izzad said that the eight students had been investigated and charged according to the University of Malaya (Discipline of Students), 1999.

“The results of the trial are effective immediately, however, an appeal may be submitted within 14 days after the decision was announced,” he said.

On Oct 27, hundreds of protesters forced their way through the locked gates of UM where Anwar was scheduled to give a talk.

The university had banned the talk, locking its two main gates and stationing security personnel at the entrances.