Police confirm UM graduate protest probe

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have confirmed that they are investigating the Universiti Malaya (UM) graduate protest incident and will not tolerate acts that threaten public order.

City police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said the case is being probed under Section 504 of the Penal Code for the intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace.

"We will not compromise and take action against anyone who threatens public order or sparks issues which touch on racial sensitivities," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 16).

UM had lodged a police report after student activist Wong Yan Ke staged a solo protest during his convocation ceremony calling for the resignation of the varsity's vice-chancellor, Datuk Abdul Rahim Hashim.

The civil engineering graduate shouted,"Ini Tanah Malaysia" while carrying a placard with the words "Tolak Rasis" (reject racism) and "Undur VC" (step down VC) on stage after he received his degree scroll on Monday (Oct 14).

A video clip of his protest has since gone viral with almost 73,000 views.

UM also barred another student from attending his convocation ceremony the next day after security personnel found a hidden folded placard, with "provocative words", on him.