UM Barred Graduate From Attending His Convocation Fearing He Supports #TolakRasis Protest
Eden Kon was ready to enter Dewan Tunku Chanselor when security guards stopped him.
By Arisha Rozaidee — 16 Oct 2019, 02:55 PM
A University of Malaya (UM) graduate posted a video on Facebook claiming that he was barred from his convocation because of fears that he might pull off the same protest as student activist Wong Yan Ke
Edan Kon Hua En posted a video saying he was ready to enter Dewan Tunku Chanselor when security guards stopped him on Tuesday, 15 October.
Kon said no one explained why he was not allowed to receive his scroll, but was told that guards were instructed by higher-ups not to let him into the hall
According to Free Malaysia Today, he said, "They failed to justify why I was barred. I even told them I just wanted to receive my scroll and that I wasn't going to carry out any protest."
The former Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY) president also alleged that he was quarantined and even accompanied by security personnel when he went to the toilet.
He suspects that he was barred from the ceremony because he had written a Facebook post in support of Wong's protest.
The 23-year-old added that he is still unsure whether he would be allowed to receive his certificate.
UM has since released an official statement saying that the graduate was barred from the convocation ceremony as he posed a threat to public order
The statement read, "What we are concerned about are provocation efforts, playing on this seditious agenda that not only threaten the safety of the vice-chancellor, but more so, threaten the peace and public order, especially at UM."
It explained that Kon was found to have used his Facebook account to rally more graduates to stage a protest against the vice-chancellor.
Since Wong Yan Ke's recent protest, the university had tightened security at its convocation ceremonies.
When asked his opinion regarding the incident, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that a convocation ceremony is not the right time nor place to voice dissent
While at the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2019 Forum, the Prime Minister said that Wong Yan Ke's actions were inappropriate as procedures and regulations are meant to be followed.
"They can demonstrate but there are other places to do that. Do not disturb a proper ceremony to show that you have certain views," he said, according to The Star.
Tun M also said that they would not interfere with any university matters. The university has filed a police report against Wong Yan Ke.
