A STUDENT activist group has accused police of targeting them to be made an example in their bid to prevent university students from raising any issues.

The University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) said this was evident with the police’s continued investigations against its members and other students for alleged seditious statements made against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. 

Umany also questioned why police had not questioned political leaders such as Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim, who had also shown his dissatisfaction with the Agong’s decision in not declaring a state of emergency.

“The president and vice-president of Umany have been summoned again for investigations at the Kajang district police headquarters today. 

“According to the conversation between our lawyer and police, they wish to summon UM students unrelated to Umany,” the group said in a statement today. 

The group said police had already questioned its president, vice-president and central committee members previously. 

Police had also questioned the president of the University of Malaya Student Union last week.

Authorities had also raided Umany president Yap Wen Qi’s house for search and seizure on November 7, arresting its former president Wong Yan Ke in the process.

Wong was charged with disobeying an order to stop recording the raid.

“There is no question this is a witch hunt. The political motive behind police’s actions is crystal clear. 

“They have become the hitmen of the Perikatan Nasional government, with their crosshair aimed at Umany in an attempt to create white terror and silence university students.”

Umany is under investigation for sedition over a statement it posted on social media.

The statement questioned the powers vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which had prompted UM to file a police report. 

Last Friday, Umany apologised to the king and withdrew the statement it published on October 30 on its social media channels.

The student group had issued its statement after the king rejected Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s proposal for a proclamation of emergency and advised MPs to support Budget 2021.

Umany said today that discussing the role of the king in the constitutional framework was an academic issue. 

“It is neither an issue that is untouchable, nor is Umany the only organisation to voice our opinion on this issue,” it said. 

“After the Agong rejected the request for a state of emergency, Rais had also posted tweets that seemingly show his discontent towards the Agong’s decision, but we do not see police investigating him. 

“This clearly shows the double standards practised by the PN government and police.” 

It added that the continuous investigations against Umany was a waste of public resources, taxpayers’ money, and police resources. 

Umany also lashed out at UM for cooperating with police to suppress the students. 

“As one of the top universities in the world as well as Malaysia, one of its core duties is to protect academic freedom. However, UM has become a puppet of the PN government. 

“It has sent a list containing the name of Umany members and non-members to police, cooperating with the police to subdue academic freedom.” – November 18, 2020.