Lawyers of Liberty concerned over recent attacks against UKM student activists

PETALING JAYA: Lawyers of Liberty has expressed concern over the recent attacks against Pro-Mahasiswa Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) president Muhammad Syahir Rahimi Sukri and activist Nisha Ayub.
Its legal coordinator Michelle Yesudas in a statement called on relevant authorities not to take such crimes lightly or allow a culture of impunity to fester and develop over time.
"They (authorities) must take immediate and serious action against the perpetrators, failing which they would only embolden the perpetrators or others to commit similar or even more serious crimes.
"The attacks are crimes of intimidation and malice against human rights activists, not ordinary petty crimes, as they specifically target those who are vocal and well-known for advocating their causes," she said today.
Michelle pointed out that activists must be given the space, freedom and security to carry out their work safely and without being targeted by threats and violence as this will prevent them from carrying out their activism effectively.
On Sept 14, Muhammad Syahir was assaulted by two suspects after putting up banners on campus for the university's elections.
Kajang police chief ACP Willey Richard said that the two suspects were believed to be in their 20s and were wearing tinted full face helmets and fled with their black Yamaha Lagenda motorbike with an unknown registration number.
Nisha Ayub on the other hand was attacked with an iron rod last Thursday by two men and sustained several injuries while she was on her way to work.