WE, the undersigned, strongly condemn the violent assault by followers and supporters of Najib Razak on Universiti Malaya students who staged a peaceful protest on March 22. The students were merely exercising their rights to freedom of assembly and expression, as enshrined in our constitution.

Unedited video images of the incident showed that the students were demonstrating peacefully and exercising their constitutional right to express their opinion and view on the performance of the former prime minister. They were then harassed, attacked and assaulted by a group of Najib’s followers and supporters.

We also condemn the justifications given and used by these attackers, who framed the students’ action of criticising Najib as “menghina orang Melayu” and labelling them as “DAP students”. Such justifications are improper and not in any manner acceptable excuses for their attack on the students.

Moreover, the justifications given are misleading. One needs to differentiate between criticism of a public figure, and insulting a person’s religion and race. The former is clearly within the constitutional right of any citizen to express their views on the former prime minister’s performance during his tenure in office.

The attackers also threatened two journalists with violence, to stop them from discharging their duty to report the incident.

Further, it is regrettable to note that police have not arrested the attackers.

We call upon the authorities to act swiftly by investigating this incident and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Malaysians from all walks of life came together on March 23 for a solidarity march, to affirm their love for peace and rejection of all forms of violence. It is, therefore, most regrettable that such attacks and assaults took place.

We call upon all Malaysians, irrespective of political affiliation and ethnicity, to reject all forms of violent behaviours and actions that threaten, intimidate and prevent fellow Malaysians from exercising their right to freedom of expression in a public space.

This is also in line with two of the affirmations of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Declaration 2019, made during the solidarity gathering – “condemnation of any act of discrimination, violence and killing in the name of religion or ethnicity, and total rejection of any act or culture based on hatred in the name of religion or ethnicity”. – March 25, 2019.

* Endorsed by the following civil groups:

1) All Women’s Action Society

2) Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia

3) Angkatan Gerak Minda Malaysia

4) Association of Toy Libraries Malaysia

5) Association of Women Lawyers

6) Bersihkan Malaysia Perth

7) Bersih Sydney

8) Bersih Timor Leste

9) Beyond Borders

10) Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia

11) Buku Jalanan Chow Kit

12) Centre for Independent Journalism

13) CHALLENGER Malaysia

14) Childline Malaysia

15) Community Integration Movement

16) Damn the Dams

17) ECCE Council

18) Education Welfare Research Foundation

19) ENGAGE

20) Foreign Spouses Support Group

21) Gabungan Pembebasan Akademik

22) Global Organisation Of People Of Indian Origin

23) Green Friends Sabah

24) Islamic Renaissance Front

25) Justice for Sisters

26) Knowledge and Rights with Young People Through Safer Space

27) Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

28) Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independen

29) Liga Pemuda

30) LLG Cultural Development Centre

31) Malaysia Muda

32) Malaysian Association of Social Workers

33) Malaysian Progressives in Australia

34) Merdeka University Bhd

35) Monsoons Malaysia

36) Movement for Change, Sarawak

37) Muslim Professionals Forum

38) Negri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall

39) North South Initiative

40) Partners in Community Organising, Sabah

41) People Like Us Support Ourselves

42) Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia

43) Pemuda Parti Sosialis Malaysia

44) Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara

45) Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor

46) Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan

47) Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor

48) Persatuan Sains Sosial Malaysia

49) Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia

50) Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kebajikan dan Persekitaran Positif Malaysia

51) Pusat KOMAS

52) Sabah Women’s Action Resources Group

53) Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia

54) Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas

55) Sisters in Islam

56) Society for the Promotion of Human Rights

57) Suara Rakyat Malaysia

58) Tamil Foundation Malaysia

59) Tenaganita

60) Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy

61) Tindak Malaysia

62) United Chinese School Alumni Associations of Malaysia

63) Women’s Aid Organisation

64) Women’s Centre for Change

65) Women Development Organisation of Malaysia

66) Yayasan Aspirasi Rakyat Amalan Malaysia

67) Youth Era

68) Youth Section of Malacca Chinese Assembly Hall

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.