ALLEGATIONS that Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) is restricting the movement of students who leaked footage of a controversial classroom presentation featuring Ku Klux Klan (KKK) imagery have surfaced.
The claim, if true, could point to a troubling pattern of retaliation against whistleblowers within the Malaysian higher education system.
The footage, which went viral earlier this week, showed UiTM Dengkil students wearing pointed white hoods and robes while carrying crucifixes—iconography synonymous with the American white supremacist group—as part of a class project said to address global racial discrimination.
The display triggered widespread condemnation and reignited scrutiny of UiTM’s stance on racial and cultural sensitivity.
According to Fajar Baru MY, a news outlet posting on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), unnamed sources inside the university allege that the whistleblower who circulated the video, along with their peers, is now being barred from leaving campus.
“Anonymous sources confirmed to Fajar Baru that the individual who acted as the whistleblower in the KKK cosplay scandal, along with their peers, is currently not allowed to leave the UiTM campus by university management,” the post claimed.
The outlet said the information was verified by “trusted student sources” within the campus community. As of the time of writing, UiTM has not issued any public response to the allegation.
The post has since gone viral, attracting thousands of likes and reposts, and prompting calls for the authorities to investigate.
News site, World of Buzz reported that its attempts to contact UiTM for comment have not been met with any reply.
UiTM earlier defended the classroom activity, stating that the students’ presentation was intended as an academic exploration of racism and was not meant to offend.
“The costumes were part of a visual to help provide a better understanding and appreciation of the topic,” UiTM said in a statement, adding that the university did not view the presentation as religiously or racially provocative.
However, the response has done little to quell public anger.
Civil rights groups, academics, and members of the public have decried the use of symbols linked to white supremacist violence, arguing that their mere presence in an educational setting is inappropriate and deeply insensitive.
“The KKK’s history of racial terror and violence is not something to be reduced to a costume or classroom prop,” one social media user wrote in response to the university’s justification. “This isn’t about academic freedom—it’s about basic respect and awareness of what certain symbols mean, ” a netizen said.
The Ku Klux Klan, which originated in the United States during the 19th century, is infamous for its campaigns of intimidation, lynching, and racial segregation, particularly targeting African-Americans. Its symbols are globally recognised as emblems of hate.
It was reported that UiTM has faced prior controversies related to racial and religious inclusion.
Earlier this year, the institution was criticised for allegedly requiring non-Muslim students to attend a religious camp—claims the university later said stemmed from a miscommunication.
In 2024, a student protest erupted against plans to open a cardiothoracic surgery programme to non-Bumiputera candidates, drawing backlash from health professionals and civil society groups.
Should the claims of campus confinement be verified, the implications would be serious. Legal experts and education advocates warn that any attempt to punish students for whistleblowing would not only violate academic freedom but also call into question the institution’s integrity and commitment to transparency.
“This is no longer just a question of a poorly judged presentation,” said one observer. “It’s about whether UiTM is willing to uphold basic principles of accountability—or whether it will silence those who dare to speak up.”
Yesterday, Police confirmed an investigation is underway into a viral video following a public complaint over alleged racial discrimination.
Sepang district police chief ACP Norhizam Bahaman said the video, which was part of a class assignment for the subject ‘Contemporary Global and Legal Issues’, became the subject of a police report lodged by a Malay man at 7.24pm on April 15, who viewed the footage as racially offensive.
Norhizam confirmed investigations are ongoing and advised the public not to speculate or circulate unverified information that could incite public unrest. – April 17, 2025
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