A GROUP of student activists have threatened a mass protest outside Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia over the suspension of a student.

The group, Kesatuan Mahasiswa Malaysia (Kesatuan), said it would rally outside the campus if the suspension of UKM law student Asheeq Ali was not revoked in one week’s time.

Asheeq, who is due to complete his studies in three months, was served a notice two days ago, with the university ordering his suspension for one semester from March 14 until April 13.

He was suspended a year ago by UKM for organising the Tangkap MO1 rally on August 27, 2016.

Asheeq, however, filed a court case, and the university ordered for the suspension to be delayed until the court matter was resolved.

He lost the case in the court of appeal on February 22.

If the suspension continues, Asheeq will need to extend his studies another year as his attendance record makes him ineligible to sit for exams this year.

Kesatuan activist Anis Syafiqah said that universities should not punish students for speaking up.

“Kesatuan urges the UKM administration to nullify whatever action has been taken on Asheeq.

“The protest will continue until the university cancels all forms of punishment. If there is no action from UKM in one week from now, we (students) will not hesitate to hold a protest in front of UKM,” she said in a press conference today.

Anis said while the rally did not have a fixed date, Kesatuan would mobilise all its student units if the university did not comply.

Kesatuan made this pledge in a joint statement with University of Malaya Association of New Youth, University Malaya Islamic Students Association, the students’ wings from PKR, Amanah, and PSM, and 15 other groups.

Asheeq’s court case was filed on January 2016.

He had sought a declaration against UKM that Section 15 (3) of the Universities and University Colleges Act were unconstitutional, as they prevented students from expressing themselves.

UKM had then fined the student activist RM200 and served him a one-month suspension, pending the resolution of the court case. – March 14, 2018.