KOTA KINABALU: The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has decided to drop all charges against Suara Mahasiswa Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) president Muhamad Fadhil Muhamad Kasim and other individuals involved in an unauthorised assembly in front of Menara Kinabalu, Likas, on Dec 31 last year.
In a statement posted on its Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday (Feb 25), the AGC announced that after careful consideration, it would not proceed with the charges and would discontinue legal proceedings in accordance with Section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Fadhil, 25, was initially facing two charges under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and the Penal Code.
He was set to be charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code for using words, gestures, or acts intended to insult a person’s modesty, as well as Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act for failing to notify the authorities at least five days before the assembly.
Following the AGC’s decision, Fadhil hailed the move as a “major victory” for students and the people in the fight against corruption.
“This is solid proof of a major victory for students and the people. However, I urge the Attorney General’s Chambers to expedite charges against corrupt individuals in Sabah,” he told The Star.
Fadhil also noted that the AGC had not contacted him personally regarding the dropped charges but had instead released the statement via its social media platforms due to the case’s widespread public attention.
He saw the AGC's announcement at around 7.30pm on Tuesday (Feb 25).
His case had previously sparked concern among student activists and rights groups, who viewed the prosecution as an attempt to silence dissent.
The movement’s deputy president, Qistina Qaisara Syahril Akmar, had earlier criticised the charges as baseless, particularly given the government’s recent stance on amending the Peaceful Assembly Act.
The Malaysian government has proposed amendments to the Act, including removing the requirement for venue owners' consent and ceasing investigations into students involved in anti-corruption demonstrations.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced that these amendments would be tabled in the upcoming parliamentary session, but the issue has yet to be raised in Parliament.
Despite the ongoing moratorium on investigations under Section 11 of the Peaceful Assembly Act, Fadhil was summoned to the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters on February 21 and issued a summons to appear in court.
