UiTM student suspension: Should student be penalised for taking selfie?

A Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) student who took a 'selfie' on stage during his graduation ceremony in UiTM Lendu, Melaka had apologised following his suspension for the action.

According to a report in Bahasa Malaysia daily, Harian Metro, UiTM vice-chancellor Tan Sri Prof Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar was quoted as saying that Muhammad Hasrul Haris Mohd Radzi, 21, has been suspended for a period between one and two years.

Dr Sahol said the student who is a graduate of Diploma in Photography and Creative Imaging had tarnished the image of the university as protocol officials had briefed students that no selfie photography should be taken on stage during the convocation proceeding.

This photo shows how the student was photographing himself during the convocation proceeding. - Photo from Twitter mynamehakim

Netizens on social media had expressed mixed responses:

Pedophiles dapat second chance. Selfie time konvo kena gantung. Only in Malaysia. /p>— Abe (@iqmarismadi) May 17, 2015

Selfie atas stage masa konvo dikatakan langgar adab. So pondan² UiTM tu pakai heels, dress up kalah perempuan tak dikatakan langgar adab?
— shahril arash (@ShahrilArash) May 17, 2015

Malaysia, where taking selfies at a convo reception is worse than having 30,000 child porn materials in your computer. #MalaysiaBoleh
— Syed Uchiha Aiman (@AimanDrummer) May 17, 2015

UiTM overreacted to the whole selfie thing.
— Faiz Bahruddin (@faizfaiz) May 17, 2015

Ramai lagi student yang lebih memalukan UiTM, setakat selfie tu takyah kot nak gantung sampai setahun.
— (@RudyRamly) May 17, 2015

Kesian member kena gantung sijil pasal selfie masa konvo. That's a bit harsh, should've given only a stern warning. #MyTwoCents
— Adam Afifi (@aDamLefty) May 17, 2015

HAHAHA Selfie masa majlis konvo, langgar protokol kena hina. Hg dah lupa hg yg hari2 langgar suruhan Dia ? Dia suruh solat 5 waktu je pun.
— Teloq yg hensem (@twt_tuhpakhang) May 16, 2015

Nampaknya ambil selfie lebih serious dari disabitkan kesalahan pornografi kanak-kanak. Satu digantung. Satu diberi peluang sambung belajar
— Tuanbae Saprais Bong (@bongkersz) May 17, 2015

Come on la UiTM, the punishment given was not necessary. Selfie on stage won't affect anything. A rigid warning is more than enough.
— iShamin(@ahmadshamin) May 17, 2015

Selfie time konvo pon dikira "memalukan UiTM" ? Banyak benda lagi yang boleh memalukan UiTM. Selfie je pon.
— Hadi Nasution (@Had1Nasution) May 17, 2015

Padan muka kena gantung sebab selfie. Kalau dunia tau pelajar UiTM selfie tak ke menjatuhkan maruah UiTM sebagai U terbaik dunia
— epal misai (@iAppleMustache) May 17, 2015

When you treat your college graduates like children.... and you wonder why they never grow up.
— cina(@YouTiup) May 17, 2015

Aku agak uitm gantung budak yang selfie masa konvo sebagai amaran pada pelajar lain tak buat benda yang sama. Memasing kan suka mengikut.
— Gekozen Takada. (@ezardgekozen_) May 17, 2015

After reading all d tweet by @twt_malaysia about the UiTM selfie issue. I realise that, ya, Melayu kita mmg mostly x paham mksd PROTOKOL.
— Arif Taidin (@EllArif) May 17, 2015

Some Netizens sang a different tune.

Illogical, said some Netizens citing that it was illogical to impose a severe punishment for not adhering to the event’s protocols.

Some even compared this scenario to that involving a Malaysian student in London who was convicted of possessing extreme pornographic images and videos of children.

The student, Noor Fitri Azmeer was considered to be given a second chance to continue his studies once he returns home.