Latest news with #GempurRasuahSabah2.0
BusinessToday
3 days ago
- Politics
- BusinessToday
Youth Council Supports Rights To Protest Against Corruption
Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) President Mohd Izzat Afifi Hj Abdul Hamid has urged authorities to take firmer and more transparent action against corruption, while affirming support for the students who organised the recent Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 protest. He welcomed the Prime Minister's directive not to take disciplinary action against Universiti Malaysia Sabah students who staged the demonstration. He said this decision reflects the value of ihsan as outlined in the Malaysia Madani vision. However, he questioned the Royal Malaysia Police's decision to investigate the students under the Sedition Act 1948, saying it contradicts the Prime Minister's guidance. While condemning the act of burning a photograph of the Prime Minister during the protest, he stressed that such actions should not overshadow the protest's underlying message. The students had voiced their rejection of corruption, power abuse and poor governance. He acknowledged the courage of the students and said their concerns reflect the younger generation's deep care for integrity in government. He urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to act more decisively and fairly, especially in high-profile cases. According to him, the fight against corruption must be consistent and impartial to restore public trust. Citing Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, which gave Malaysia a score of 50 and placed the country 57th out of 180 nations, he said this was a clear sign that stronger national action was needed. He called for a 'whole-of-nation' approach and said MBM was ready to act as a bridge between students and agencies like MACC. He also offered MBM's support in organising engagement sessions and policy discussions that involve student voices. He concluded that the fight against corruption must be guided by wisdom, responsibility and courage for the sake of a clean and just Malaysia. 'For truth and justice,' he said. Related
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Daily Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Chin defends participation in rally
Published on: Thursday, June 26, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 26, 2025 Text Size: Chin said he was not present during the caricature burning incident at Lintasan Deasoka and did not support such action. Kota Kinabalu: Lawyer Chin Tek Ming defended his participation in the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally. He questioned what was wrong with exercising his constitutional right to support anti-corruption efforts and provide legal guidance to the students. Speaking after being questioned by Kota Kinabalu police headquarters regarding the rally held on June 21-22, Chin said: 'Citizens have the right to voice concerns about State Government failures and support students demanding justice.' He said he was not present during the caricature burning incident at Lintasan Deasoka and did not support such action. He expressed concern over the ongoing water supply issues affecting students at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), which he cited as a primary motivation for the demonstrations. * 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. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Anwar reflects compassionate leadership
KUALA LUMPUR: A student protest in Sabah has evolved into a national reflection on the values of democracy, youth activism and compassionate leadership. When university students in Kota Kinabalu burned a caricature of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 protest, many expected swift disciplinary action. Instead, the nation witnessed a powerful act of restraint — and a reminder of the reformist roots that continue to shape Malaysia's leadership today. Held from June 21–22, the protest began as a peaceful student-led gathering calling for action against corruption and to address unresolved water problems on campus. However, it escalated into controversy on its final day when some demonstrators set fire to a caricature of the Prime Minister. Rather than respond with condemnation, Anwar chose to meet the criticism with wisdom. In his June 24 daily briefing, he acknowledged the protest and reaffirmed that freedom of expression remains a fundamental democratic right. 'It reminds us of the rakyat's expectations that corruption must be eradicated to its roots,' he said. As a former student activist himself, Anwar reiterated that the freedom to speak out is protected under the Federal Constitution — but also emphasised that such freedom must be exercised with responsibility and integrity. 'The spirit for change must begin with the courage of youth to speak the truth — grounded in facts and driven by sincere intentions,' he said. 'On the part of the government, the commitment to reform remains firm and is being implemented in structured ways.' Demonstrating the Madani government's commitment to compassionate governance, Anwar instructed the Higher Education Ministry and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) not to take action against the students involved. 'No young person should lose their educational path and their future should not be sacrificed due to a difference in opinion,' he said. He affirmed that the government remains committed to combating corruption to ensure the prosperity and well-being of all Malaysians. This balanced approach was echoed by the National Student Consultative Council (MPPK), which issued a statement strongly condemning the act while commending the Prime Minister's dignified and compassionate response. MPPK described the burning of the caricature as 'provocative, excessive and against the values of scholarly conduct,' stating that such actions reflect a lack of rational thinking, risk disrupting public order and undermine the intellectual and respectful discourse expected of university students. However, the council praised Anwar's statesmanship, calling his decision not to impose academic penalties a meaningful gesture that reflects true leadership. 'This compassionate approach demonstrates the government's commitment to ensuring that no youth is denied access to education due to a misstep — allowing them the opportunity to learn and build a brighter future,' MPPK added.
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Transfer UMS protest students to Peninsular, says politician
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.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Student group launches campaign calling for release of detained activists
KOTA KINABALU: 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 (June 24), Suara Mahasiswa UMS claimed that the three were wrongly detained for their involvement in the recent Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally. They stated that the two UMS undergraduates were arrested at the Kota Kinabalu District Police headquarters when they went to lodge a 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,' they said in a post. They also criticised Kota Kinabalu district police chief Asst Comm Kasim Muda for initially denying the arrests, calling it misleading to the media and public. The Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 protest, held over June 21–22, saw students gather peacefully to protest against corruption and unresolved water problems on campus, but escalated into controversy when some demonstrators burnt caricatures of the Prime Minister on the final day. Meanwhile, Parti Warisan legal adviser Chin Tek Ming, who was also summoned by police in connection with the rally, voiced support for the students and their cause. In a statement on Tuesday (June 24), he confirmed giving a statement to the authorities earlier but clarified that he was not present during the caricature-burning incident. While he did not condone the burning of placards, he stressed that the students felt they had no avenue left to pursue. Earlier, Anwar advised that UMS students involved in the recent Gempur Rasuah 2.0 rally should not face expulsion. According to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Anwar acknowledged the students may have made a mistake but stressed that their education and future should take priority. This follows an earlier statement by UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor that 13 students could face disciplinary action under the Universities and University Colleges Act 2012, which may include suspension or expulsion.
