Dr Maszlee expresses regret over scuffle near UM, wants cops to probe

Dr Maszlee reminded universities to always support the students as long as it did not contravene the law or university regulations.

PETALING JAYA: Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik has expressed disappointment and regret over the scuffle that took place near Universiti Malaya.

“Universities are an open platform for intellectuals. They are a platform to discuss, debate and have peaceful forums.

“Universities are not the place for gangsters, extremists and terrorists.

“To the UM undergraduates, don’t be ashamed,” he said in a statement on Friday (March 22).

He said students have responsibilities to shoulder for society, and as such, they should move forward to fight disobedience and always tell the truth.

Dr Maszlee hoped that authorities will investigate and take action if there are criminal elements in the incident.

“Furthermore (such incidents) will only destroy the values and the societal norms that are well known for decency and morality,” he said. 

Earlier, students holding a demonstration against Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak were allegedly manhandled by the former premier's supporters on Friday. 

The students were demonstrating across the street of a restaurant near Universiti Malaya where Najib was speaking. 

A video of the scuffle that is being shared on social media showed Najib's supporters, including Umno supreme council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam, accosting the students who were behind a railing.

The students were holding placards that read “Najib tak malu (Najib is shameless)” and “Mana RM2.6bil? (Where is the RM2.6bil?)”, as well as a big cut-out of a caricature of the former premier as a clown.

The confrontation quickly turned aggressive as the supporters snatched the placards away from the students.

 Najib’s supporters then held one of the students in a reverse chokehold and grabbed his hair and hit him.

Several men were seen calling “sabar (patience)” and separated the two groups before the students retreated.

According to Malaysiakini, the manhandled student has been identified as Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president Wong Yan Ke.

It reported that the police took the students in their vehicles to the Pantai Dalam police station.