UM bars student activist from speaking at freedom of speech forum

KUALA LUMPUR – A student activist was prohibited from speaking to students at a Universiti Malaya (UM) event after an undergraduate lodged a complaint against the activist to the varsity authorities. 

The activist, Wong Yan Ke, was barred from entering UM’s Dewan Tunku Canselor to speak as a panellist for a forum titled Freedom of Speech in Campuses held yesterday morning as part of the university’s orientation programme. 

In a series of tweets, Wong detailed how auxiliary police officers had stopped him from entering the hall. Following this, Universiti Malaya Student Union (UMSU) representatives, who had organised the event, attempted to negotiate to allow Wong to say his piece. 

1. Was invited by Student Union-UMSU to attend an academic forum titled ‘Freedom of speech in the campus’ during the Universiti Malaya orientation week with Prof Azmi Sharom. I was stopped by the security at the entrance around 10.30am, more staffs were sent to surround the hall. pic.twitter.com/SxEPyZ6tUk

— Wong Yan Ke (@yankewong96) October 13, 2022

“UMSU decided to escort me into the hall (through the backstage entrance) but in less than five minutes (after I had spoken), the event was put to a halt,” he said. 

When contacted by The Vibes, Wong said that prior to the event’s abrupt end, staff members had turned off the microphones in the hall while shouting at students in attendance to disperse. 

“I was there to speak on matters related to freedom of speech and also the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku),” he explained. 

“If they (UM) had allowed the event to continue smoothly, there would have been no issues (arising from the event). UM is only embarrassing itself by attempting to stop the event from being carried out,” he added. 

This is not the first time Wong has received the brunt of the university’s ire as the institute had previously filed a police report against him in 2019 following his “rude and unacceptable” actions during a convocation ceremony he attended. 

On October 14, 2019, the engineering graduate received his graduation scroll on stage before yelling: “Tolak rasis. Undur VC. Ini Tanah Malaysia (Reject racists. VC step down. This is Malaysian land)” while holding a placard highlighting his demands. 

Wong had cited several reasons for demanding the vice-chancellor’s resignation. He cited how the then vice-chancellor, Datuk Abdul Rahim Hashim, had allegedly promoted racism and hatred through a speech made during the Malay Dignity Congress on October 6, 2019.

On April 5 this year, Wong was ordered by the magistrate’s court here to submit his defence in the case, where he faces a charge under Section 504 of the Penal Code related to intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. 

Wong has ‘bad reputation’

Meanwhile, The Vibes also reached out to the student who had complained about Wong’s presence at the forum yesterday through an e-mail to university authorities. 

Final-year student Amirul Fahmi said he had expressed his concerns because of Wong’s “bad reputation” within UM, claiming that the activist’s involvement in university programmes would have painted the institute in a bad light. 

“I stand by my decision (to lodge a complaint against Wong). There was nothing legally wrong with my act and I did not intend to restrict anyone’s freedom of speech,” he said. 

“There are many other more suitable people they (UMSU) could have invited to speak at the forum. Why did they have to platform someone with a bad reputation in UM?” 

Additionally, Amirul hit back at individuals who have been attempting to relate his complaint to his position as president of Umno Siswa, the party’s student wing. 

“Trying to tie back what I said to any group is a dirty tactic. The complaint was made within my own capacity as a student who cares about my university’s name,” he said, noting that his email to UM administrators did not mention his post in any student organisations. 

He also alleged that Wong had been invited to partake in the event without the approval of university authorities. 

Meanwhile, UMSU president Ooi Guo Shen clarified with The Vibes that Wong was a last-minute substitute sent by the human rights group Suaram.  

He said that Wong, who is also a coordinator with Suaram, was sent to replace another Suaram member who was unable to attend the forum due to “emergency circumstances”. 

“Wong also has experience in dealing with student-related matters as he was part of the technical committee formed by the Education Ministry in 2018 for the abolishment of Auku,” Ooi said, adding that he has no ill feelings towards Amirul over the complaint filed. 

“(Amirul) has a right to lodge a complaint but what right does the university have to stop our event?” Ooi said.

“If he (Wong) says anything wrong during the event they (UM) can take action later. Instead, they chose to pre-censor and deny students the right to make up their own minds.” – The Vibes, October 14, 2022