By Hafiz Yatim | Malaysiakini
The High Court in Shah Alam today quashed the Universiti Malaya disciplinary board’s decision to fine or suspend five of its students for organising and participating in a rally featuring former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, two years ago.
The five are former Persatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (PMUM) president Fahmi Zainol and his then-committee members Safwan Shamsuddin, Adam Fistivil Wilfrid, Haw Yu Hong and Khairol Najib Hashim.
Justice Mohd Yazid Mustafa, in allowing their judicial review application to quash the board’s decision, ruled that the disciplinary proceedings were not conducted in accordance with the UM disciplinary rules (Kaedah-Kaedah Universiti Malaya Tatatertib Pelajar-Pelajar 1997).
It further ruled that when the UM disciplinary board met with the appeals board on the students’ appeal, it was done without the students’ presence.
The five were represented by counsel New Sin Yew.
The university had suspended Fahmi for two semesters and fined him RM600, while Safwan was suspended for one semester and fined. The others were fined.