IPOH: The leaders of student movements must be clear in the objectives of their struggles in order to prevent their movements from becoming tools to satisfy the goals of groups with bigger agendas, said Perak Menteri Besar Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Zambry, who was active in student movements and was arrested under the Internal Security Act in 1998, described the illegal assembly organised by the Malaysian Students Solidarity Movement at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) on New Year’s eve, as clearly had a certain agenda.
“We heard of what happened, which is why we always remind student movements and their leadership, that whatever you’re struggling for you should never end up becoming tools to satisfy and fulfill the wants of any groups or parties which have bigger agendas,” he said after introducing the Perak football squad at his official residence here, yesterday.
He was commenting on the illegal assembly, organised by the movement after the New Year’s eve celebration in UPSI, where two of its members were injured.
Yesterday, Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan denied allegations, posted on several blogs, that his personnel used force while dispersing the crowd at the assembly.
The injuries were caused by their own jostling besides the assembly being illegal because they did not have a permit,said Mohd Shukri, adding that the group was also not a registered body.
Zambry also said there were parties who had taken advantage of the incident to garner the public’s sympathy and support.
The disruption of public peace and damage of property at a clinic during the assembly was something unacceptable, he added.
“Anything that disrupts harmony and public safety is something that is unacceptable. Let the police investigate if they were within a permissible scope or not,” he emphasised.
While many Malaysians were eagerly awaiting the New Year countdown, about 70 students from several universities assembled outside UPSIS’ entrance demanding the abolition of the University and University Colleges Act 1971 and to protest against any disciplinary action on UPSI student Adam Adli Abdul Halim who had taken down a flag bearing the image of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak outside the Umno headquarters on Dec 17. — Bernama
