Sabah student defends anti-corruption rally, reminds leaders of past protests

The Star

23-06-2025

KOTA KINABALU: A Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student has defended the recent anti-corruption protest and symbolic act of burning a caricature of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, pointing out that Anwar once led similar demonstrations during his university days.
In a Facebook post, final-year student Fadhil Kasim reminded the public that when Anwar was a student leader at Universiti Malaya, he had also led a protest where he and others burned a book written by Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
'At that time, they believed the book was 'submersive', so Anwar and his group held a protest and even burned the book in public,' Fadhil wrote.
Fadhil said today's student protesters are being unfairly criticised by Anwar's supporters, including groups like Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) and Angkatan Muda KeAdilan (AMK), who seem more interested in pleasing the Prime Minister than standing up for the people.
He added that the Gempur Rasuah 2.0 Rally at Lintasan Deasoka in Gaya Street over the weekend, where he and a friend burned a caricature of Anwar, was to highlight issues like corruption in Sabah and the water problems affecting students at UMS.
'People were quick to attack our actions and talk about morals and manners. But they ignored the bigger issue, the people's problems and corruption,' he said.
Fadhil said he believes Anwar might understand their actions if he remembered what he used to do as a student activist in the 1970s.
'But that is just wishful thinking. The truth is, Anwar is now the Prime Minister, not a student anymore,' he said.
Fadhil also pointed out that when Anwar was in the opposition, he often visited Sabah and spoke about issues like corruption, logging, poor roads, and Sabah's rights.
'Now it is different. He seems more focused on keeping the GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) government strong in his Madani administration … even though GRS is facing major corruption scandals,' he said.
Fadhil ended his post by identifying himself as 'the student who burned the caricature of Anwar,' and included the line: 'Madani: Protector of Sabah's corrupt.'
He also added a black and white photo of Anwar, and several others, in an act of setting fire to some items on the floor.