Human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) wants the management of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) to withdraw the suspension of two students for organising a forum on the goods and services tax (GST).
“Suaram condemns UIA’s decision for giving two semesters of suspension to the students who invited (PKR vice president) Rafizi (Ramli) to the GST forum held in the school campus last May.
“Suaram therefore urges the management of UIA to review the decision,” the human rights group said in a statement today.
It added that the two students, Hanif Mahpa and Afiqah Zulkifli, had the goodwill of organising an intellectual forum for students to know more about the GST, pointing out that the university’s management was informed of the list of attending speakers and had initially approved the forum but only cancelled its approval last minute.
“In such an event, the students should not be blamed for holding the forum without approval as the management should have given advanced notice instead."
Suaram said UIA’s action should be criticised for “bringing political belief into an educational institution”.
“An institution like UIA should not be seen to favour the ruling political party and prohibit those from other political parties from sharing their knowledge on non-political issues such as the GST in this current case.
“The management of UIA is indirectly disrupting the intellectual growth of the students evidenced by the grave punishment of the members of the student council for organising such an event,” he said.
Students argued with security team
During the forum held in May, Rafizi’s ( photo ) microphone was snatched away by the university’s security chief mid-speech and a brief scuffle occurred when several students argued with the security team.
The forum was then called off by Hanif, who is also the university's student council president.
Meanwhile, DAP Youth also condemned the university’s decision to suspend the students.
“The suspension of the two students shows how the university’s management does not respect the students’ freedom,” said DAP Youth chief Teo Kok Seong, adding that he did not see how it was wrong to invite Rafizi as one of the speakers for the forum.
The Rasah MP added that UIA’s decision to suspend the students had shown the true face of Barisan Nasional which does not respect the voice of the rakyat.
“The management of UIA must withdraw its decision in suspending the students so that they can continue their studies without any obstacles,” he said in a statement today.
