Fahmi Zainol told Malay Mail Online that all six students, including the four who were fined RM150 each, will bring their case up to the university’s court of appeal in the next few days. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — Universiti Malaya (UM) students have vowed to protest in front of their campus gates until the university lifts its suspension order on two of their peers, who were punished yesterday for organising the unauthorised talk by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in October.

Wan Nur Syamimi Wan Sajiri who chairs the Sisters in Movement group said the students have already set up tents at the university’s KL entrance and some 30 students are present to kick off the “occupation”.

“We want to show the power of the students and we won’t just keep quiet,” she told Malay Mail Online.

She said the move is to show Malaysians how the students were unfairly penalised.

A UM inquiry panel decided late last night to suspend students Fahmi Zainol and Safwan Shamsuddin over the unauthorised talk featuring Anwar held October 27, a day before the Opposition Leader’s Sodomy II case.

The suspension order comes just weeks before the youths’ final examination.

Fahmi, who is Student Council (PMUM) president and the main driver of the Anwar talk, was suspended for two months while Shamsuddin, the Pro-Mahasiswa chairman, was suspended for one month.

Both were also slapped with fines of RM600 and RM300 respectively.

Responding today, Fahmi said the punishment has not broken his spirit.

“... in fact, I want to thank the people who made the decision to punish us because it gives us the space and opportunity to continue the fight with the students.

“I will continue to fight and will support the UM students who will occupy UM in front of university entrance until the suspension is lifted,” he said in a statement.

Out of the eight students slapped with charges over their involvement in the “40 Years: From University of Malaya to Jail” talk featuring the university’s alumnus, Anwar, only one, Abraham Au, was walked free from punishment.

Apart from Fahmi and Safwan, four were fined RM150 each, namely PMUM vice-president Haw Yu Hong, secretary-general Nur Syamimi Munirah, Adam Fistival Wilfrid and Khairul Anwar.

Fahmi told Malay Mail Online yesterday that all six students, including the four who were fined RM150 each will bring their case up to the university’s court of appeal in the next few days.

He also threatened to bring his case to the civil courts if the appeals for all six students are not successful.

Today, Wan Nur Syamimi said the UM students drew their inspiration from other student movements across the globe, including those involved in China’s Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

During the historic seven-week occupation of the square, she noted, students activists had bravely faced down assault troops, sacrificing their lives to fight for a country that truly empowers its people.

“This has yet to happen in Malaysia but it will continue to inspire us to continue fighting for a better Malaysia,” she said defiantly.

On October 27, Anwar, the 67-year-old PKR de-facto leader, managed to enter campus grounds and address a massive crowd of students — despite a downpour and lockdown of the campus — on the eve of the Federal Court’s appeal hearing over his second sodomy conviction and jail sentence.

The talk became a flashpoint for student activism, prompting students from various public institutions to stand up and demand for academic freedom as well as to speak up on bread and butter issues affecting regular Malaysians.