UNIVERSITI Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) has called on Malaysians to support its former president’s crowdfunding campaign to appeal a court decision.

In a statement today, Umany said it stood by Wong Yan Ke.

“Although Wong paid the fine, he decided to appeal to the High Court because the lawsuit is not only about his personal freedom but also about the students’ freedom of speech on campus and the future of the Malaysians,” the statement read.

“Umany and the endorsing organisations believe that as citizens of Malaysia, we should actively support and stand with the warriors who bravely defend the country’s democracy, freedom and secular pluralism but are unfairly dealt with by those in power. 

“Therefore, we hereby call on everyone to support the crowdfunding campaign initiated by Wong for this case and support this warrior with endless courage to defend what is right.”

Umany urged donors to visit the website to contribute.

On October 9, the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court found Wong guilty of insulting a university vice-chancellor by staging a protest during a convocation ceremony in 2019.

He was fined RM5,000. Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan said the court could not agree with the Wong’s reasoning that he had no other means to voice his views

Wong was accused of humiliating Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim and the convocation attendees knowing he would incite anger with a protest placard on stage demanding Rahim’s resignation.

Wong, who graduated from Universiti Malaya with a degree in civil engineering, was charged in February 2020. – October 22, 2023.