Zambry says Anwar against expelling UMS students over image-burning

Zambry says Anwar against expelling UMS students over image-burning


Published: Jun 24, 2025 2:54 PM
Updated: 6:33 PM


Summary

• Zambry says Anwar is against expelling Universiti Malaysia Sabah students who burned a caricature of the latter during a protest.

• PM is also said to believe that while the students made a mistake, their education and future should take priority.

• The protest, part of an anti-corruption rally, is under police investigation for possible sedition.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim does not wish for Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to expel its students involved in the recent burning of a caricature of him, said Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir.

Conveying Anwar’s stance on the matter in a brief Facebook post today, Zambry also said that the prime minister emphasised the future of the student protestors.

“The prime minister advised that the UMS students involved in the recent incident should not be expelled from the university.

“For the prime minister, they (the students) might have made a mistake, but their future and education are far more important and should be prioritised,” Zambry said in the post.

On Sunday, student protesters in Sabah capped off a 22-hour protest against corruption by burning a poster of Anwar, with the words “Madani protector of corrupt Sabahans”.

Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah spokesperson Fadhil Kasim said the banner symbolised a scathing critique of Anwar’s administration, which the group claimed had failed to uphold promises of institutional reforms.

The protesters’ actions have incited criticism from various quarters, including PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim, who said the crowd resorted to burning Anwar’s image as they lacked valid arguments.

Former MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad also asserted that resorting to extreme acts, even symbolic ones, risks undermining the causes championed. He advocated for “acting honourably” instead of displaying “shallow spectacles”.

In response to the backlash, Fadhil said that he was inspired by Anwar’s student protests in the past, including when he burned a book on the May 13 riots by Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Sabah police chief Jauteh Dikun said yesterday a probe is ongoing under the Sedition Act and Penal Code.