UNIVERSITI Malaya student Ummi Umairah Bakhit, who recently went viral for criticising the act of donating money to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has stood by her stance—maintaining that donating to members of the elite implicated in corruption is both foolish and immoral.
In a social media post, she asserted that she would not apologise for raising the issue, even though the question she posed at the International Future Young Leaders Summit had sparked a heated debate.
“I stand by the question I raised and will not apologise. This is because donating one’s hard-earned money to the elite is, quite frankly, the most foolish and immoral act imaginable.
“I hope more people will find the courage to speak out about corruption and integrity, free from fear,” she stated in a post on her Instagram account.
Ummi Umairah noted that she has never been selective about the causes she champions; for instance, she previously participated in a demonstration concerning the former Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Tan Sri Azam Baki.
“I have also spoken out regarding the inequality of opportunity at my university. From day one, I have been consistent in voicing my position,” she said.
She also expressed disappointment at the reactions from some segments of society, which she attributed to the influence of cyberbullying, political obsession, and a feudalistic mentality.
She maintains that labelling an action as "foolish" does not constitute a legal offence; rather, it is a firm expression used to describe behaviour that is beyond belief or entirely nonsensical.
“Describing an action as foolish is not the same as calling a person a fool,” she said. – October 20, 2026
