Fahmi not worried despite PSD scholarship revoke threat
Student leader Fahmi Zainol is unperturbed despite receiving a show cause letter from the Public Services Department (PSD) threatening to revoke his scholarship.
Fahmi, the Universiti Malaya Undergraduates' Association (PMUM) president, was slapped with two charges by the PSD in a letter dated November 6.
The first charge relates to the event involving PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who gave a public address to UM students on October 27.
PSD claims that Fahmi had proceeded with the "40 Years from Universiti Malaya to Prison" programme despite the UM administration declaring the event illegal.
The second charge relates to an article which appeared on The Malaysian Insider on October 26, for which Fahmi has been accused of criticising Putrajaya.
Fahmi is alleged to have made negative statements about Putrajaya by mentioning the Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong and the student revolution in Indonesia.
However, Fahmi said for the first charge, the University Malaya administration had only issued an official letter declaring the programme illegal at 6.08pm on October 27.
"The programme was declared illegal at the last minute, so how was I supposed to call it off or cancel the event," Fahmi told The Malaysian Insider this evening.
The programme had been declared illegal by UM deputy vice-chancellor of student affairs Professor Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof, as it would “damage the image” of the university.
On the charge of criticising Putrajaya, Fahmi said he was merely stating two events which had occurred.
"The Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong did happen and was widely reported, as was the student reformasi in Indonesia," he said.
In its letter, the PSD said that by organising the public talk by Anwar, Fahmi had contravened conditions of his scholarship agreement.
Fahmi might be made to "reimburse" the amount of his scholarship already disbursed to him if found guilty, the PSD letter also said.
The Social Administration and Justice final-year student has been slapped with nine charges by the University Malaya disciplinary panel.
In The Malaysian Insider article on October 26, Fahmi had challenged University Malaya to expel him if they dared.
The 23-year-old student said he was undeterred by the threats from UM and even the prospect of a future behind bars.
“If they want to expel me, go ahead. Let this be a lesson for the public on what is going on in universities and Malaysia,” Fahmi had told The Malaysian Insider.
“Let the students see the truth, that while they may be soaking up knowledge from the top institutions in Malaysia, in the end they are still controlled by an unjust authority.
“I am willing to be expelled, to be imprisoned, anything for the sake of making Malaysia a better place.”
He said he was inspired by his professors, lecturers and peers to take up the challenge of leading a student movement to bring about change. – November 11, 2014.
