[PHOTOS] What Happened When Hundreds Of Students Defied UM's Banning Of Anwar's Speech
Up to 2,000 students, from different universities in the Klang Valley reportedly showed up at the "40 Years: From UM To Prison" event featuring Anwar Ibrahim in defiance of Universiti Malaya.
By Mei Mei Chu — 28 Oct 2014, 02:36 PM — Updated about 10 years ago
Something big was brewing in the air at the Universiti Malaya (UM) campus in Kuala Lumpur on the afternoon of 27 October 2014
Univesiti Malaya authorities had declared the "40 Years: From UM To Prison" event featuring a speech by Anwar Ibrahim illegal. However, students, unhappy with the school's decision which was deemed to have a political agenda, vowed to challenge the school and proceed with the event.
At 4pm, the school administration allowed staff to get off work early with electrical issues as the reason
"The bad and unpredictable weather of late has resulted in blackouts and damage to electrical substations in the university," UM's administration told them in an email that is now being circulated on Facebook. "The situation is dangerous and the university would like to carry out repairs and maintenance on the electrical substations at several major locations in the university. "Hence, to avoid any unforeseen circumstances, the administration has agreed for all offices in the campus of Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, to be closed down on October 27, 2014 (Monday) from 4pm today," the email said.
themalaysianinsider.com
After all university staff had left the campus, security personnel closed off all three entrances and barred entry to all vehicles
A handful of policemen came and stood watch as a crowd started to gather outside the campus at 6.30pm
"Senior Anwar Ibrahim, welcome home."
Hundreds of UM students braved the heavy rain as they waited in front of the metal gates that were closed and locked
Student council president Fahmi Zainol and several others were seen negotiating with the school authorities, but to no avail
A representative from Persatuan Kebangsaan Islam Malaysia named Fazril Saleh says: "What we are doing is not an offence. Please allow the students to gather." PKR's Johari Abdul attempts to talk to the deputy vice chancellor to open the gates, but seems to be ignored.
themalaysianinsider.com
He then stood atop a parked truck in front of the gates, leading student to chant "Bangkit! Bangkit! Bangkit Rakyat! Buka pintu! Buka pintu! Masuk UM!"
After waiting for two and a half hours, the students charged through the gates and pushed their way towards Dewan Tunku Canselor
About 2,000 students reportedly turned up in defiance of UM, mostly in protest of the education institution's decision to stifle academic freedom and students' right
The students who forced themselves into the Universiti Malaya campus tonight to listen to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speak said the situation would not have come to this if only the university's administration had not banned the event. Many felt that the failure by UM to acknowledge academic freedom and the rights of students was what pulled the crowd together.
themalaysianinsider.com
"People were here because of the restrictions imposed. Students came in droves to show that we are united. What is the harm in listening to the speech?" "The number of people would not have been too big and things would have been calmer if only the university had given its approval to Anwar to address the students," Fatiha Ahmad, 23.
themalaysianinsider.com
Habibah Ab Hamid, 22, and her friend were trying to exit the university to return home, but when they saw the main gates locked, they decided to join the crowd. "We are in the final year of our studies, but the university is treating us like children. We have our own mind and should be allowed to draw our own conclusions," she said.
themalaysianinsider.com
Students from UKM, UiTM, UM and HELP joined the crowd. Student activist Safwan Anang and UM Law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom were also spotted.
At 9.40pm, Anwar arrived in a pickup truck with wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and daughter Nurul Izzah
Anwar stood atop a pickup truck as he delivered a 20 minute speech hitting out at UM and Putrajaya
Clad in a black shirt and pants, the 67-year-old Anwar said the UM administration was too weak to stand up for academic freedom and maintain the institution's standards. "Our public institutions of higher learning are producing students without a soul," Anwar said, pointing out that UM used to be respected internationally. "Honour and dignity is sadly lacking in our institutions of higher learning, Putrajaya was given the mandate to elevate our educational standards, but they have failed
themalaysianinsider.com
He pointed out there were simply too many restrictions and obstacles placed by Putrajaya to stop freedom of speech. "Putrajaya refuses to address issues of corruption, wastage and leakage. They prefer to spend their time going after dissenters with the Sedition Act 1948." Anwar said issues such as racism, extremism, corruption and religious bigotry were ignored by Putrajaya.
themalaysianinsider.com
"The rakyat will determine for themselves what is important," Anwar pointed out, adding that Putrajaya had failed the rakyat despite being given the mandate. "Where is the educational excellence which the rakyat expects from our system? Why is Malaysia still lagging behind other countries despite starting out on a level playing field?"
themalaysianinsider.com
He gave his speech in darkness as the lights in the area were all out. Anwar moved closer to a street lamp across the road.
With rapturous applause, Anwar stood up to address the crowd, opening with “I have been persecuted for 16 years. But I have to defend myself.” Talking about his younger days, Anwar said, “I was lucky enough to get a great education. I had great professors who encouraged progress.” Praising Fahmi for his street smarts, Anwar added, “I would have accepted it if Fahmi had said the event was cancelled. But Fahmi is smart. He asked what I would have done back in the day. I would have said, ‘Fight’!”
Addressing his fellow students, Fahmi Zainol said "We made history tonight. We have brought back the spirit of academic freedom, freedom to speak out."
Speaking to the crowds, Fahmi Zainol said, “This event is not just about Anwar Ibrahim. We want a better Malaysia.” He added, “We are not saying we are the best, but activism and (student) movement starts at UM. We made history tonight." “We have brought back the spirit of academic freedom, freedom to speak out.”
Comparing the situation in Malaysia to that in Thailand and Hong Kong, Fahmi said, “The transformation of a nation starts in the university. We saw that in Thailand and Hong Kong. We will start a new era here, in UM.” “Hidup, hidup mahasiswa! (Live, live, undergraduates!) Hancur, hancur kezaliman.” (Down, down with tyranny!)”
Anwars's speech came to a rousing end and the crowd dispersed peacefully at 10.30pm
Today, UM had lodged a police report over the trespass of property
Universiti Malaya (UM) has lodged a police report over trespass of property following a talk by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday night. UM media and corporate unit head Izzad Zalman Abd Kadir said the intrusion resulted in the collapse of the main gate when students had forced their way through.
thestar.com.my"The talk was illegally held at Dataran Dewan Tunku Canselor. "UM is built on a private-owned land. You can't simply trespass someone's property and hold a function there without permission," he told reporters outside Pantai police station on Tuesday. Izzad was accompanied by the university's security director Yusof Harun and security officer Khairul Anuar Abu Shari.
thestar.com.my