Latest news with #PerhimpunanAmanGempurRasuahSabah2.0
Daily Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Police probing nine offences
Published on: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 24, 2025 By: Sherell Jeffrey Text Size: Jauteh said the students could have chosen alternative methods to voice their concerns. - Pic by Rahim Matnin | Daily Express. Kota Kinabalu: Organisers of the Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 did not require any police permit but must abide by the stipulated conditions of the rally, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun. The rally, organised by Suara Mahasiswa Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) over the weekend, resulted in police reports and investigations after the organisers failed to comply with the conditions. 'We received six reports related to incidents during the rally. 'Three investigation papers have been opened involving nine offences, including sedition, burning materials in public places, bringing dangerous materials like fuel to the rally and issues related to race, religion and royalty (3R),' Jauteh told a media conference at the State Police Contingent Headquarters, Monday. He said police have begun calling individuals to provide statements as part of their investigation. 'There is no approval but rather feedback from police on the notification made by the organisers,' he said, pointing out the legal framework governing peaceful assemblies while addressing misconceptions about police approval. Advertisement He said under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, organisers must notify police at least 10 days before holding any assembly, providing details including the applicant's name, route to be taken and purpose of the assembly. 'The law does not require a permit or licence. The notification is simply to inform authorities, not seek permission. Police have five days to respond with feedback,' he said. 'In the case of Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0, the police took the initiative to issue feedback regarding the notification. The purpose of issuing the feedback is to inform the organisers to comply with the conditions or restrictions,' he added. He said the Kota Kinabalu District Police Chief had set 15 conditions for the organisers to comply with. However, police investigations found that the organisers failed to meet the conditions. Asked about potential charges, he said investigations would proceed under various laws, including the Penal Code and Sedition Act. Addressing claims that the students had received special approval from police, Jauteh said: 'I think the students did not convey the truth. They said they received extraordinary approval from the police. 'Even though lawyers were present with the students, they should have understood what the police had actually provided under the Peaceful Assembly Act, which was feedback with conditions, not approval.' Asked about a counter-rally group that also gathered, Jauteh said they were also under investigation. 'We have not said they violated the law. But we are investigating police reports,' he said. Jauteh said the students could have chosen alternative methods to voice their concerns. 'If they want to express grievances, they could have prepared letters and meet in groups with relevant parties to state their intentions and call reporters to convey what they want to convey,' he said. The rally coincided with the Head of State's Birthday Ceremony, though Jauteh noted that under Section 4 of the Peaceful Assembly Act, any Malaysian citizen above 15 years old can participate in assemblies. 'Let the public know. There is no approval. No permit in this matter. There is no such thing as approval,' he said, reiterating that police response was merely feedback on the notification along with conditions for public order and safety. For the record, the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 removed the previous requirement for police permits that existed under Section 27 of the Police Act 1967. Under current law, no permit or licence is required to hold a peaceful assembly. The notification system is designed to facilitate the right to peaceful assembly rather than restrict it. Police cannot outright ban or reject an assembly notification. They can only impose reasonable restrictions on time, place and manner for security and public order purposes. Even failure to notify police, while potentially incurring a fine of up to RM10,000, does not make an assembly illegal or unlawful. The Act emphasises that peaceful assemblies cannot be deemed illegal merely due to lack of permits or notices, reflecting a constitutional shift towards protecting citizens' right to peaceful assembly. * 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
Daily Express
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Water: Student group wants UMS to take legal action
Published on: Thursday, June 05, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 05, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: 'I believe the VC is playing his role as the head of the university, and it's important that his stance remains consistent. This is the first time he has made such a statement, and we welcome it,' Fadhil said. Kota Kinabalu: Suara Mahasiswa UMS has urged Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to take legal action against the State Water Department (JANS), demanding at least RM100 million in damages over the prolonged campus water crisis. In a statement, the student group accused JANS of misleading the public in its May 29 statement, which downplayed the severity of the water supply issue from the State-owned R13 tank — the main water source for UMS. The group cited internal documentation and reports from UMS's student council and maintenance unit showing that water levels in the R13 tank had dropped to zero on several days, halting supply to the campus. They also claimed this data had been officially shared with JANS and supported with photographic evidence. The group said the financial burden of the water crisis had been unfairly shifted onto students, many of whom faced repeated disruptions and had to bear additional costs, including tuition fees, off-campus rent, transportation, utility bills and other living expenses. 'UMS must sue JANS and the damages should be returned to the students — this is not just about water anymore. It's about accountability and justice,' the statement said. Earlier, Daily Express reported that UMS Vice-Chancellor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansur said the university had long been transparent about the water issue, and clarified that the R13 tank, owned and operated by JANS, had repeatedly failed to supply enough water to meet UMS's daily needs. Kasim said if water levels had been sufficient, students would not have resorted to holding demonstrations. Suara Mahasiswa President Fadhil Kasim welcomed the VC's remarks and said it marked an important shift in the university's stance. 'I believe the VC is playing his role as the head of the university, and it's important that his stance remains consistent. This is the first time he has made such a statement, and we welcome it,' he said. 'We will be meeting the VC tomorrow at 2pm to exchange views, possibly touching on the water issue.' The student group is organising Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0, a peaceful rally scheduled for June 21-22 in Kota Kinabalu to demand systemic accountability and a solution to longstanding infrastructure problems. They also alleged that students involved in past activism had been called in by police and faced threats — but maintained that they would not be intimidated in their push for justice. * 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
Borneo Post
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Govt urged to stop weaponising laws against voices of UMS students
KOTA KINABALU (May 24): Amnesty International Malaysia has urged the government to drop all investigations against six students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) who were summoned to the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters (IPD) for investigations under Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (1998). Its Interim Executive Director, Vilasini Vijandran, said the investigation of thebstudent activists is a deeply concerning attack on freedom of expression. Peacefully voicing criticisms and making demands through a press conference should never be treated as criminal offenses. 'The timing of these investigations — just weeks ahead of the Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally in Kota Kinabalu — also sends a chilling message of intimidation by the Malaysian authorities. The Madani government must recognize that targeting student activists in this way not only suppresses youth voices but also risks fostering a culture of fear and self-censorship among them,' she said in a statement on Saturday. Vilasini said a moratorium on investigations under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) is meaningless if authorities continue to rely on other repressive laws to stifle civic participation. 'This incident proves why amending the PAA alone is not enough — without systemic reforms and genuine respect for human rights, there will always remain ways to clamp down on public dissent. 'We urge the government to drop all investigations against the UMS students and commit to comprehensive legislative reforms that protect — not punish — peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. At this juncture, we need more than vague promises and minor amendments to legislation; we need the political will and systemic reform to dismantle the arsenal of laws used to silence public dissent in Malaysia,' she said. On May 22, the six UMS student activists were summoned to IPD Kota Kinabalu following a police report lodged against them. The students are being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code (defamation) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (improper use of network facilities) after holding a press conference related to the upcoming Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally, scheduled for June 21–22 in Kota Kinabalu. This is not the first time UMS student activists have been targeted. In February 2025, UMS student leader Fadhil Kasim was charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) — for failing to provide prior notice of an assembly — despite the government's earlier pledge to reform the law. The charges were later dropped following widespread pressure mounted by the public and civil society groups. Amnesty International Malaysia has repeatedly highlighted how the use of outdated laws to investigate and harass activists in Malaysia reflects a broader pattern of repression and undermines the credibility of the government's own reform commitments.
Malaysiakini
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Sabah student body announces June 21-22 rally in KK
A Sabah student movement announced a rally to protest the ongoing water crisis at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), controversial government appointments, and other issues. The Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 (Peaceful Rally Against Sabah Corruption 2.0) was set for June 21 and 22. At a press conference tonight, the Suara Mahasiswa UMS group, led by Fadhil Kasim, said...
