Drop illegal & baseless disciplinary charges against student Adam Adli

I refer to the disciplinary action commenced by University Pendidikan Sultan Idris( UPSI) against student leader Adam Adli Abdul Halim over the ‘Najib flag’ issue. The notice dated 23.12.11 issued by UPSI’s disciplinary body has brought two charges against Adam. The 1st Charge alleges, among other things, that Adam has damaged the ‘ good name’ of UPSI and the 2nd Charge alleges that he has ‘endangered morals and public order’.

Both charges are baseless, unconstitutional, illegal and plainly absurd. In lowering Najib’s flag, Adam Adli was exercising his right to freedom of expression which is guaranteed under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution. Adam’s action was a legitimate and democratic protest against Najib’s failure to ensure student and academic freedom by repealing the UUCA; it was also a protest against Najib’s attempt to deceive Malaysian students by announcing superficial and incomplete reforms.

Adam Adli has not broken any laws of the country by lowering the ‘Najib flag’. In fact, he should be lauded for courageous stand in the cause of student freedom and university autonomy. In the face of aggressive UMNO and government attacks upon him, Adam has stood firm and unflinching. UPSI has utterly disgraced itself, by toeing the government line and persecuting Adam. How can UPSI justify taking action against a student for peacefully exercising his legal right to free expression under the Federal Constituion?

UPSI has no legal or moral right the prevent Adam from exercising his civil rights as a citizen. In persecuting Adam, UPSI has clearly buckled to political pressure from UMNO/BN. Thus, UPSI’s conduct fortifies our consistent stand that real reforms must be instituted to ensure student and academic freedom. UMNO/BN’s iron grip upon our universities and institutions of higher learning must be ended, in order to ensure that our universities are able to properly carry out their functions.

The government must respect international norms, including UNESCO recommendations on student and academic freedoms. We call upon UPSI to immediately drop all pending disciplinary charges against Adam Adli Abdul Halim. We further call upon Prime Minister Najib to introduce wide-ranging reforms to endure student and academic freedom in our country. Universities play a central role in the ‘development of humanity and modern society’; the government must recognise this and end all political pressure on students,higher-education institutions and their teaching personnel.

*** Media Statement by N Surendran, Vice President PKR