'Occupy UM8' ends, case may be brought to court

The ‘Occupy UM8’ sit-in protest finally ended on Monday after six days at Universiti of Malaya’s (UM) Chancellery Building.

Its Islamic Students Association president, Khairol Najib, one of eight students hauled up for organising a political talk, said the ‘Occupy UM8’ protest has ended, but their demands for all disciplinary action against the eight students be overturned still stands.

He added, despite the days long protest, they have yet to get a response from those concerned.

“We went to the Student Affairs building this morning (Monday) to meet with Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Prof Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof, but she was not around.

“We then went to the Chancellery Building to meet with Vice-Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin and asked for an immediate response to our demands, but he too was not around,” said Khairol.

“Tonight (Monday), the Vice-Chancellor will hold a meeting with the Universiti Malaya Students Association (PMUM). We trust PMUM will put forward our demands.

“In the afternoon we had carried placards reading ‘See You In Court’ as a warning if the decision made tonight is not in our favour,” Khairol added after the conclusion of the ‘Occupy UM8’ protest on Monday.

He said, UM8 is determined to hand over a memorandum on the issue to the university’s Chancellor, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah at the Istana Iskandariah, in Kuala Kangsar, Perak if the meeting on Monday night is not in favour of UM8.

Meanwhile UM Pro-Mahasiswa President, Safwan Shamsuddin, also one of eight students hauled up for organising a political talk, said if the charges and disciplinary action against them are not dropped, they will bring this matter to court.

He also thanked all those who helped them in their cause.

“The democratic process that we have fought for must be continue, whatever happens, whatever challenges we face, it will not break out spirit because we believe the future generation does not need this kind of disciplinary act,” Safwan said.

Approximately 70 students took part in the ‘Occupy UM8’ protest on Monday at the Chancellery Building.

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'Occupy UM' participants holding up placards during their protest on Monday - Pic by Syazmee
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Several UM students placing the placards written “See You In Court” at the Chancellery Building yesterday evening – Pic by Syazmee

The 'Occupy UM8' protest, held since Dec 10, was held to demand that all disciplinary action against eight students, who had organised a political talk in October, be overturned.