DAP Youth has criticised Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor (VC) Abdul Rahim Hashim for purportedly abusing his power and urged him to resign from his position.

This is in light of how student Edan Kon Hua En was barred from attending his graduation ceremony yesterday.

University auxiliary police had done so to prevent Kon from staging a protest against Rahim (above) during the ceremony, as another student recently did.

In a statement yesterday, DAP Youth said the VC had overstepped his power in stopping a graduate from receiving his scroll.

They also noted some of Rahim’s recent actions and called for his immediate resignation.

“He (Rahim) had remained silent when student activists were attacked by supporters of former premier Najib Abdul Razak outside campus; made racial statements at the Malay Dignity Congress; made a police report against student Wong Yan Ke from exercising his constitutional rights to speak up and express himself; and now he has barred a graduate from receiving his scroll onstage.

“It is clear that the VC has failed to perform his duties and should resign immediately,” they said.

The statement was signed by the youth wing’s deputy president and Tanah Rata assemblyperson Chiong Yoke Kong, international secretary and Bagan Dalam assemblyperson M Satees as well as other leaders.

University authorities reported student Wong to the police after he held up a placard listing reasons for Rahim’s resignation when onstage to receive his graduation scroll.

Wong had also yelled “Tolak rasis. Undur VC. Ini Tanah Malaysia” (Reject racism, VC withdraw, this is Tanah Malaysia).

The university has since denounced his public protest as rude and a dent in the reputation of the top-ranking public tertiary institution.

In anticipation of a second protest by Kon yesterday, they barred him from entering the graduation hall even after he promised not to stage any stunts.

Wong and Kon are both from the University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany), a vocal student group.

Earlier this month, Rahim ignited controversy during the Malay Dignity Congress when he allegedly claimed that Malay political dominance had been “eliminated” while Malay special privileges were under “question” since the change in government last year.

The VC had also purportedly warned people to stop challenging the “social contract” of the nation. 

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