KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Youth has advised university students to call off their planned New Year’s eve rally aimed at highlighting concerns over corruption.
If this is not heeded, the wing urged the authorities to revoke the permit issued to University Sabah Students (UMS) for the Dec 31 assembly.
“Street protests may disrupt public order and tarnish Sabah’s reputation as a peaceful and harmonious state,” a GRS Youth official said in a statement yesterday.
The official said holding dialogues to address the corruption issue was a more effective way instead of taking to the streets.
“We respect the students’ right to air their views, but they must focus on their future. They should prioritise education over activism,” the official said, urging them not to be manipulated by political forces. The wing also asked the university to work on the necessary measures to get the students to take part in constructive activities.
However, civil society group Cahaya Society backed the planned assembly scheduled to be held outside the state administration office, Menara Kinabalu.
In a statement, it said the student movement only had public interest at heart and not any “vested interest”, adding that one should not legitimise the lack of transparency in public fund management.
“The student rally emphasises the negative effects of corruption in the management of public funds, which impacts the state’s governance system,” it added.
