PM urges UMS to show compassion in disciplining protest students
Published on: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Published on: Wed, Jun 25, 2025
By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: Zambry also said any actions taking place outside the university campus fall under the jurisdiction of the relevant authorities. Kota Kinabalu: Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to be compassionate when imposing disciplinary action on 13 UMS students involved in the Sunday's protest rally. He said the action must not be tantamount to expelling or suspending them. Minister of Higher Education Dato' Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the PM called him earlier to discuss the matter on Tuesday and expressed deep concern over the fate of the students involved in the rally as well as the students' future. 'Out of compassion, he wants the students to be allowed to continue and complete their tertiary their studies, and earn their degrees. That, after all, determines their future. 'This reflects PM's empathy and concern. Even though there are regulations and rules in place on campus, and even though he (PM) was the main target of the protest incident, he conveyed to me his hope that the university will not resort to expelling or suspending them,' Zambry said. He spoke after attending a dialogue with university and college students under 'Program in Person with Doc Zam' at Chancellory Hall, UMS, on Tuesday.
Advertisement He was commenting on the fate of 13 UMS students in a two-day rally including burning a poster of PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the City Centre on Saturday and Sunday. They faced expulsion and suspension under University and Universities College Act (Amended) 2012. Zambry urged the UMS administration to take note of the Prime Minister's concerns and to consider a more compassionate approach in handling the situation. 'While we understand that disciplinary action may be necessary, it should not reach a point where these students' futures are completely shut down because of what they've done,' he said. Zambry also reaffirmed that while Malaysian citizens, including university students, have the constitutional right to assemble, that right is subject to existing laws and regulations. 'As we all know, the right to assemble is enshrined in the Federal Constitution. However, it must be exercised within the framework of current laws, including those related to public order and security,' he said. He also emphasized the importance of balancing the right to freedom of expression with respect for leadership and proper conduct. 'Everyone has the right to speak up, but it must be done with courtesy and decorum. Even if there are disagreements, the methods used must reflect good manners and proper procedures,' he said. Zambry also said any actions taking place outside the university campus fall under the jurisdiction of the relevant authorities. 'Activities outside university grounds are subject to national laws and enforcement by the appropriate authorities, depending on the nature of the actions and existing legal provisions,' he said. On any measures taken by his Ministry to prevent such recurrence of the rally especially burning the poster of PM's caricature, Zambry said certain steps have already been taken, and they are consistently engaging with students. However, at the same time, he said this is not just an issue involving the students alone —there is also a need to monitor the surrounding influences that may be at play. 'We also need to monitor external influences that may have contributed to the situation. Any action taken must consider all factors, and not just a single aspect,' Zambry said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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