Latest news with #GempurRasuah
Free Malaysia Today
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Dissent crucial in democracy, says Anwar after caricature burning
Some of the participants of an anti-corruption rally held in Kota Kinabalu last weekend. (Bersih Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim believes dissent is crucial in a democratic country and freedom of speech must be upheld, says the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Speaking during the daily press briefing, senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah reiterated Anwar's order to the higher education ministry and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) not to take action against its students for protesting. Tunku Nashrul said the incident was a reminder of the people's hope for the government to completely eliminate corruption. 'As the prime minister himself was part of a student movement, and once led a movement for reform on the streets, he understands that criticism, no matter how much it stings, is an important part of democracy. 'The future of our youth should not be jeopardised due to differences of opinion,' he said. Earlier, higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said Anwar had urged UMS not to expel the students involved in burning a caricature of the prime minister during an anti-corruption rally in Kota Kinabalu last Saturday. The Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 protest saw more than 100 people call for action to be taken over the Sabah water department scandal. Organised by several UMS students, the rally ended with the burning of a caricature of Anwar. Police are investigating the burning of the caricature under the Sedition Act 1948 and Penal Code.
Malay Mail
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Anwar backs students' right to protest, tells MoHE and UMS to protect academic freedom
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today ordered the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to ensure students involved in the recent Gempur Rasuah 2.0 rally in Kota Kinabalu may continue their studies freely. Announcing this today, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, senior press secretary to the prime minister, said that Anwar understands that allowing dissent is an integral part of upholding democracy, given the latter's background as a student activist. 'The burning of effigies of the prime minister in Kota Kinabalu recently reminds us of the people's hope in us to eradicate corruption,' Tunku Nashrul said during a live-streamed briefing via Facebook today. '(However), we cannot sacrifice the future of our youth simply because we have differences in opinion.' This announcement came hours after two student activists reportedly linked to the rally were allegedly detained today in connection with the burning of the effigies. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikum said on Monday that student activists involved in the rally were under investigation for allegedly not adhering to requirements set under the Peaceful Assembly Act. Meanwhile, UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Kasim Mansor previously indicated that 13 students who participated in the rally could face disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion, under the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971 (Amended 2012). Organised by a student activist group called 'Suara Mahasiswa UMS,' the anti-corruption rally held last Saturday reportedly drew some 100 participants.
Free Malaysia Today
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops probe caricature burning at Sabah rally for sedition
Yesterday's Gempur Rasuah 2.0 rally organised by several Universiti Malaysia Sabah students ended with the burning of the caricature. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Police are investigating the burning of a caricature of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at an anti-corruption rally in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, yesterday. Sabah police chief Jauteh Dikun said the incident, purportedly carried out by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students who took part in the protest, is being investigated under the Sedition Act and the Penal Code. Jauteh said the incident was witnessed by 'many tourists' as it was in a public place and had sparked fear, Daily Express reported. 'Once completed, we will refer (the investigation paper) to the Attorney-General's Chambers for the next course of action to be taken,' he said. Yesterday's Gempur Rasuah 2.0 rally, organised by several Universiti Malaysia Sabah students, ended with the burning of the caricature of Anwar. More than 100 people took part in the protest to call for action over the Sabah water department scandal.
Free Malaysia Today
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Sabah rally-goers slammed over burning of caricature
Participants at the Gempur Rasuah 2.0 rally in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, painting a caricature of the prime minister before setting it on fire. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A Sabah PKR leader is puzzled over why rally-goers protesting the water woes plaguing Universiti Malaysia Sabah set fire to a caricature of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the gathering. Razeef Rakimin pointed out that Anwar had previously announced an allocation of RM3 million to resolve the water supply disruptions at the university. 'The prime minister approved the sum after listening to the students' grouses and yet he was targeted,' he said in a statement this evening. During a trip to Kota Kinabalu in May 2023, Anwar said the federal government would channel the sum to the state government to resolve UMS's water woes. In January last year, higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir announced an additional allocation of RM2 million to UMS for the same purpose. The Gempur Rasuah 2.0 rally, organised by several UMS students over the weekend, ended with the burning of Anwar's caricature. According to Malaysiakini, the rally began at about 1pm on Saturday and continued until 11am yesterday with over 100 participants who called for action against the Sabah water department. Razeef, who is the Tuaran PKR chief, said that while the party had no issue with the public holding rallies, there was something amiss with the approach adopted by the organisers of the Gempur Rasuah 2.0 rally. He said the campaign resorted to snide remarks and swearing, 'which many found off-putting'. When only 50 to 80 rally-goers turned up on the first day, he said, the organisers came up with a new gimmick – drawing Anwar's caricature and burning it. 'It is clear that it was not only a desperate stunt, but one that was also directed at the wrong person,' he said.
Malay Mail
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Counter rally to clash with anti-graft student protest on Sabah governor's birthday tomorrow
KOTA KINABALU, June 20 — A new pro-government youth movement is set to take to the streets of Kota Kinabalu this weekend to counter the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 anti-graft rally. The Gerakan Anak Muda dan Mahasiswa Anak Sabah (Gammas) has announced its intention to hold a peaceful assembly on Gaya Street, explicitly to counter what it calls the 'misrepresentation' by the student activist group Suara Mahasiswa UMS, which is organising Gempur. 'The purpose of this gathering is not to rival the anti-corruption rally 2.0 organised by Suara Mahasiswa UMS, but rather to clarify to the public that the majority of students at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) do not support the rally organised by Suara Mahasiswa UMS,' they said in a statement today. While the Suara Mahasiswa protest is focused on government accountability and alleged mismanagement of funds, Gammas said they will be demonstrating in support of the state leadership under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the GRS-PH coalition government. 'The main objectives of the gathering is to express support for our chief minister and the GRS-PH government to continue leading Sabah, as they have shown strong commitment to student and youth welfare,' they said. They outlined several benefits such as the Sentosa one-off RM300 assistance for students studying in Sabah, the Budi programme offering RM1,500–2,000 in cash aid for qualified tertiary education students, the Subfly flight ticket subsidy programme, public scholarships amounting to RM50 million and laptop assistance among others. The group also voiced strong support for the monarchical institution in Sabah, claiming it is a unifying force in a multicultural state and criticising what it sees as attempts by Peninsular-based political actors to undermine it. They said they submitted their notice of the rally to the Kota Kinabalu police on June 16. The Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally was given the greenlight by police on June 18. They had announced their rally last month. The rally is expected to begin on Saturday at 1.00pm in front of Suria Sabah shopping mall, with participants marching to Lintasan Deasoka, Gaya Street, and continuing the demonstration through Sunday. Their demands include action on the Sabah Water Department scandal, institutional reforms for the anti-corruption commission and suspension of individuals accused of corruption. The rallies coincide with the 74th official birthday celebration of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri tomorrow morning.
