Transfer UMS protest students to Peninsular, says politician

Borneo Post

5 hours ago

Shahril
KOTA KINABALU (June 25): The 13 Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students involved in the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 protest should be transferred to universities in Peninsular Malaysia, said a political leader.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Beaufort Youth chief Mohd Shahril Osin supported Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir's stance that the 13 students should not be expelled from UMS but he urged Zambry and the Ministry of Higher Education to consider more long-term action, including transferring them to Peninsular Malaysia or to their respective home states.
'We don't want incidents like this to become a culture among students who do not respect the laws of Sabah,' he said in a statement today.
'If they are not interested in studying at UMS and only see the campus as a platform for political activism, it would be better for them to be transferred to a university in their home state.'
UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor had stated the 13 students could face disciplinary action under the Universities and University Colleges Act 2012, which may include suspension or expulsion.
Yesterday, Anwar advised that UMS students involved in the protest should not face expulsion. He acknowledged that the students may have erred, but stressed that their education and future should remain a priority.
Shahril, who is also the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Klias youth chief, claimed that most of the students involved in the protest were not native Sabahans, but rather students from Peninsular Malaysia, believed to have been mobilised under the influence of opposition parties.
'The protest clearly shows an attempt by certain parties to exploit students to create a negative perception of the state government. Some opposition leaders were even seen at the protest,' he said.
He stressed that if these students were genuinely serious about fighting corruption, they should have the courage to speak out in their own states, which also face major corruption cases involving political figures, rather than turning Sabah into a ground for cheap political experimentation.
Shahril also urged Zambry to take responsibility for all issues arising at UMS, including unresolved basic problems like water supply and student welfare.
'UMS deserves serious attention. We acknowledge there are logistical and infrastructure challenges, but the ministry cannot allow this institution to be continuously targeted by the frustrations of students who don't fully understand the context of Sabah's development,' he said.
'If these students claim UMS has many issues, then they should apply for a transfer to another university. We won't stop them. In fact, it's better than having them remain in Sabah while displaying disrespectful attitudes and challenging the sovereignty of the state's laws,' he opined.
According to Shahril, if the students are genuinely committed to anti-corruption efforts, they should return home and work with PMX to clean up administration in their own states.
'If they truly want to fight corruption, go and march in Selangor, Penang, or Negeri Sembilan. Corruption isn't exclusive to Sabah. Don't be hypocrites,' he said firmly.
He also warned that such incidents should not be taken lightly as they involve elements of provocation, defiance against the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and possibly orchestrated efforts to destabilise the state ahead of the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election.
While expressing support for PMX's commitment to fighting corruption, Shahril urged that the same approach be applied fairly and without double standards.
'We in Sabah also reject corruption. But we also reject destructive forms of activism. Manipulating students, exploiting their emotions, then backing away when things get tense — that is cowardice,' he said.
He also called on all parties, including opposition leaders, to stop using institutions of higher learning like UMS as platforms for political propaganda, and instead to respect universities as places for gaining knowledge and shaping ethical, mature future leaders.
'UMS is a pride of Sabah. Don't tarnish its reputation with outside agendas. We want students to think freely, but not to the point of being used as tools for political interests that could destroy their own future,' he stressed.
The Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 protest, held from June 21 to 22, saw students gather peacefully to protest against corruption and unresolved water issues on campus. However, the rally drew controversy when some demonstrators burned caricatures of the Prime Minister on the final day.
Meanwhile, student group Suara Mahasiswa UMS has launched the #SABAH3 campaign, calling for the immediate release of three activists recently detained under the Sedition Act 1948.
The campaign follows the arrest of their leader, Muhamad Fadhil Muhamad Kasim, member Aliff Danial Badrul Akmal Hisham and local activist Sabir Syarifuddin.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday, Suara Mahasiswa UMS claimed the trio were wrongly detained for their involvement in the recent Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally.
They said the two UMS undergraduates were arrested at the Kota Kinabalu District Police Headquarters while lodging a police report, after acid was allegedly splashed on Fadhil's car.
'We strongly reject this abuse of power and demand that the authorities release all three activists immediately. This is why we are launching the #SABAH3 campaign — to mobilise public support,' the group said.
Parti Warisan legal adviser Chin Tek Ming, who was also summoned by police in connection with the rally, voiced his support for the students.
In a statement yesterday, he confirmed giving a statement to the authorities earlier but clarified that he was not present during the caricature-burning incident.
While not condoning the burning of placards, he emphasised that the students felt they had no other avenue to express their grievances.