Amnesty International Malaysia has responded to recent reports that police will summon individuals from University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) as part of an investigation over a statement calling for the abolition of the national matriculation programme.
Its freedom of expression campaigner, Kiran Kaur, said: “Students are supposed to question, debate and challenge policies. That’s what education is about. Threatening them with criminal investigations just for speaking up is a shameful act by the ‘Madani’ government.
“If every call for change risks a police probe, then what’s the point of claiming to be a country that upholds free speech? Malaysians shouldn’t have to sanitise their opinions just to avoid trouble. This has to stop.
“Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has promised time and again to protect student voices, yet the same old laws are still being used today to silence them.
“Words aren’t enough. Until these repressive laws are repealed or reformed in line with international human rights standards, freedom of expression in Malaysia will remain under attack,” she added.
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Divya Shesshsan is the communications officer of Amnesty International Malaysia.
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