Universiti Malaya reminds students to balance academic duties and personal safety before joining off-campus protests, stressing lawful expression.
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya has advised its students to carefully consider their personal safety and academic responsibilities before participating in any off-campus activities.
The university’s deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs), Prof Dr Zamri Radzi, said UM respects students’ rights to engage with current issues and express their views.
He stressed that this freedom must be exercised responsibly and in accordance with the law.
“Awareness of societal issues is part of developing critical thinking among students,” Zamri said in a statement.
“However, freedom of expression must be exercised prudently, in line with the law, while taking into account personal safety and the well-being of all parties.”
The statement comes ahead of a planned student march to Parliament scheduled for February 9.
Zamri noted that the event coincides with the university’s examination period.
He advised students to carefully weigh their academic commitments before deciding to participate.
The university also clarified that the group organising the march, known as ‘Liga Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya’, is not a registered student organisation.
Zamri said the group does not represent the official position of UM or the collective voice of its students.
UM remains committed to providing proper channels for dialogue on campus.
The university aims to offer organised platforms where views can be expressed constructively and in line with its intellectual values.
The march is believed to be aimed at calling for the abolition of the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU).
