STUDENT activist Aliff Naif Mohd Fizam has said pledged to continue holding rallies after being charged with organising a street protest in Kuala Lumpur last month.

The undergraduate said he is undeterred by prosecution over his role in the protest over soaring inflation.

“We will continue with our efforts until the government listens to our demands. We will not back down,” the student activist told The Malaysian Insight.

Aliff was charged under section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 at for failing to notify the police of a July 23 street protest over price hikes.

The International Islamic University Malaysia student union president pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed bail at RM3,000.

The court set September 21 for case mention. 

A crowdfunding campaign was launched to help Aliff put up bail. 

Despite its not reaching the target, Aliff said he is happy with the collection.

“We aimed for RM3,000 but we managed to collect around RM1,500. 

“The remaining sum was given to me by some non-organisational organisations I’m involved with,” he said.

Rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and the Pakatan Harapan youth division have condemned the action against Aliff and two other politicians, Amanah Youth chief Hasbie Muda and Batu PKR youth chief Sabda Suluh Lestari Yahya , who altogether led three separate protests against the rising cost of living. 

They said the charges against the trio infringed on their right to freedom of assembly. 

Bigger coalition 

Aliff said the students group have joined the Tolak Kerajaan Gagal Movement, which he said would be louder in highlighting the failures of the Ismail Sabri Yaakob administratiom. 

“We have joined the Tolak Gerakan Gagal Movement that was launched last week. 

“Its objectives are to have a nationwide tour, which may include rallies, forums, engagements and ceramah. Our demands will join with those of the movement. 

“This time, it will not only be a student movement alone. It will be a bigger group,” he said. 

Following the cancellation of a protest in the capital last Saturday, Tolak Kerajaan Gagal Movement spokesman Syahmi Shamsudin told the media that the group would now hold a nationwide tour instead.

He said the plan was to reach more Malaysians across the country. 

Aliff said they will address issues faced by students, among others. 

“Different groups have different demands but overall, the demands brought by the students group have become a movement.  

“Kesatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya president Ooi Guo Shen and I will focus more on students’ demands but we will also support the demands of others,” he said. 

The students are demanding salary cuts for ministers and their deputies, adequate aid for the people, maintenance of subsidies, resolution to food security issues, and controlled prices of goods. – August 23, 2022.