Media Quote
23 May 2025
Responding to the news that six students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) were summoned to IPD Kota Kinabalu for investigations under Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (1998), Amnesty International Malaysia’s Interim Executive Director, Vilasini Vijandran, said:
“The investigation of student activists from Universiti Malaysia Sabah is a deeply concerning attack on freedom of expression. Peacefully voicing criticisms and making demands through a press conference should never be treated as criminal offenses.”
“The timing of these investigations—just weeks ahead of the Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally in Kota Kinabalu—also sends a chilling message of intimidation by the Malaysian authorities. The Madani government must recognize that targeting student activists in this way not only stifles youth voices but also risks fostering a culture of fear and self-censorship among them.
“A moratorium on investigations under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) is meaningless if authorities continue to rely on other repressive laws to stifle civic participation. This incident proves why amending the PAA alone is not enough—without systemic reforms and genuine respect for human rights, there will always remain ways to clamp down on public dissent.”
“We urge the government to drop all investigations against the UMS students and commit to comprehensive legislative reforms that protect—not punish—peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. At this juncture, we need more than vague promises and minor amendments to legislation; we need the political will and systemic reform to dismantle the arsenal of laws used to silence public dissent in Malaysia.”
Background
On 22 May 2025, six Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student activists were summoned to IPD Kota Kinabalu following a police report lodged against them. The students are being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code (defamation) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (improper use of network facilities) after holding a press conference related to the upcoming Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally, scheduled for 21–22 June in Kota Kinabalu.
This is not the first time UMS student activists have been targeted. In February 2025, UMS student leader Fadhil Kasim was charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA)—for failing to provide prior notice of an assembly—despite the government’s earlier pledge to reform the law. The charges were later dropped following widespread pressure mounted by the public and civil society groups.
Amnesty International Malaysia has repeatedly highlighted how the use of outdated laws to investigate and harass activists in Malaysia reflects a broader pattern of repression and undermines the credibility of the government’s own reform commitments.