Students, lecturers march in support of Azmi Sharom

PETALING JAYA: More than 200 students from University Malaya and various other universities gathered yesterday to support University Malaya Law Faculty lecturer Associate Prof Dr Azmi Sharom who was recently charged under the Sedition Act 1948 for comments he made regarding the 2009 Perak crisis.
The peaceful rally was led by the University Malaya Students Association (PMUM) and the Academic Staff Association of University Malaya (PKAUM) who marched together with various academicians, students and politicians.
The peaceful march started at the law faculty and ended under a tree at the main bus stop in the UM grounds with students chanting for Azmi's release.
PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo and Segamat MP Lim Lip Eng were among the politicians who showed up in support of Azmi.
Nurul Izzah said the biggest lesson to take away from yesterday's march is that the students themselves are standing up for academic freedom.
"You are all not here for me, you are here to stand up for basic human rights, freedom of speech and academic freedom," Azmi said in his address to the rally.
In GEORGE TOWN, some 15 people, including university students, attended a similar rally at Sungai Dua.
The event was organised by the Student Progressive Front (SPF) with its spokesman Lee Chung Lun also calling for the Sedition Act 1948 to be repealed.
Also present was Penang Health Committee chairman and state PKR Youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin, Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon and Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin.