Azmi Sharom says that the ban on political activities amounted to constitutional rights

Banning academic staff from organising ‘political activities’ is a breach of the Federal Constitution, the University Malaya Academic Staff Union (PKAUM) today said.

In a statement PKAUM president Prof. Azmi Shahrom stated the unions’ objections to the infringement of the rights of students and staff.

He was responding to a circular from the management of Universiti Malaya (UM) management dated December 23 last year, which the staff only received today.

The circular stated that with immediate effect, all staff are forbidden from participating or organising political events, and that every UM staff is obliged to “give their loyalty to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, country, government and Universiti Malaya at all times.”

“PKAUM would like to point out that UM staff are subject to the protections provided for in the Federal Constitution in particular the freedom of expression, association and assembly,” said Azmi in the brief statement.

Amongst the restrictions imposed on campus staff include disallowing any officer in the Top Management Group or the Managerial and Professional Group from engaging with any political party or even wearing its emblem.

The circular also mentioned that the UM management views “seriously any actions, behaviour or words which do not protect and defend the sovereignty and honour of the country, as well as the rule of law.”

The circular issued by UM

The circular, signed by UM Registrar Yusoff Musa, comes in the wake of the “40 Tahun dari UM ke Penjara” talk, which featured Pakatan Rakyat de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim as one of its main speakers. The talk  was to have been held in the university’s compound, but it was banned by UM authorities. As a result, the students were locked out of the campus grounds on the day of the planned talk.

Azmi was present at the talk, which had turned chaotic after negotiations with authorities to open the gates failed. The students then stormed the gates.

Eight students were investigated for organising the talk, and two students Fahmi Zainol and Safwan Shamsuddin were eventually suspended and fined; actions which have been seen as a clamp-down by university authorities on student freedom.   -The Rocket