UM students, lecturers stage protest in support of Azmi Sharom
T K Letchumy Tamboo
September 10, 2014 14:37 MYT
September 10, 2014 14:37 MYT
UM students announced to boycott classes to attend a peaceful assembly as a support for their law lecturer.
More than 500 University Malaya (UM) students and lecturers today staged a protest at the campus in support of UM law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom, who was charged with sedition recently.
The protest, called, ‘Solidarity Walk for Dr Azmi Sharom’ was organised by Universiti Malaya Students Associations (PMUM) and Persatuan Kakitangan Akademik Universiti Malaya (PKAUM).
Dr Azmi was charged on Sept 2 under the Sedition Act 1948, over comments made on an online portal regarding the 2009 Perak crisis.
Most of the students who turned up at the protest which began at the UM law Faculty and ended at the campus library, wore black and blue ribbons to mark freedom of speech.
Moments before the solidarity walk started, Dr Azmi, who is PKAUM’s president, appeared from inside the UM law Faculty building to loud cheers from the students.
The students carried numerous banners with words such ‘Free Azmi’ , ‘Mansuh Akta Hasutan’, ‘Defend Academic Freedom’, and ‘Ilmu bukan Hasutan’, dan shouted ‘Hidup Azmi’ throughout the journey.
Among the protest’s demands are:
1. To drop all charges against Dr Azmi.
2. To abolish the Sedition Act.
3. To ensure academic freedom
4. To ensure freedom of the speech
During his speech, Dr Azmi expressed his pride over his students.
“I worked as a lecturer for the past 24 years. If I chose to be a lawyer, I would have brought a luxurious car and house by now.
“But, no amount of money can buy the feeling of pride to see all my students here.
“This protest is not about Dr Azmi, It is about freedom of the speech. Freedom for everyone who was charged under the Act including ISMA president.
“Even though I don’t agree with anything that he said, I still have to defend his rights to voice up his opinions.
“I think we don’t have a choice. The Sedition Act should not exist,” he said.
Opposition members including Nurul Izzah Anwar, Gobind Singh Deo, Lim Lip Eng, Teresa Kok and Teo Nie Chi, also attended the protest to show their support.
Before the protest was adjourned, the national anthem was sung and Jalur Gelimanh was flown at half mast.
Dr Azmi claimed trial after being charged under Section 4(1)(b) and Section 4(1) (c) of the Sedition Act 1948.
If convicted under either the first charge or alternative charge, Azmi will face a fine of not more than RM5,000, a jail term of not more than three years, or both, if found guilty.