Students charged over flowers, tombstone demo

They will face Universiti Malaya’s disciplinary board on May 3.

KUALA LUMPUR: Three students are facing the wrath of University Malaya authorities for demonstrating with garlands of flowers and a tombstone.

The three—third year Islamic political science student Mohd Syahid Zaini (photo), third year Islamic education student Safwan Anang and first year law student Haziq Abdul Aziz—will face the university’s disciplinary board on May 3 to defend themselves against charges of causing public disorder and embarrassment to the university.

Syahid told reporter today that all three faced the same two charges.

They were among students who participated in Abolish PTPTN protest at Dataran Merdeka last April 14. A group of them marched to an area near the Sogo shopping complex, shouting anti-PTPTN and anti-Barisan Nasional slogans.

They placed on the ground framed pictures of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Noordin, wrapped a garland around each and stuck a tombstone between them.

Syahid is chairman of the Malaysia Bangkit student movement. Safnan and Hazik lead Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia, another student activist group.

“The university is claiming that our actions resemble a Hindu ritual,” Syahid said.

The university is charging them under Section 16c of the Universiti Malaya Methods (Student Regulations) 1999.