KUCHING: The Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Sarawak Youth Council (DPPNS) has urged the authorities to hasten their investigations into Wong Yan Ke’s disrespectful actions during University of Malaya’s recent convocation ceremony.
PAS Youth chief special media officer, Ahmad Dinnie Asyraf Ahmad Ashrin, described in a press statement yesterday that Wong’s words were rude.
“For PAS Youth, a convocation ceremony is a celebration of triumph and a time of joy for each graduate. Unfortunately, Wong used the occasion to express his resentment aimed at disrupting the formal ceremony,” he said.
Ahmad further noted that the event had provoked varied reactions from the plural Malaysian society. Some are critical and some even asked University of Malaya (UM) to withdraw Wong’s degree.
However, there are others who are supportive of Wong and elevated him as a kind of student hero for having spoken out.
“My questions to the University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president are: Who do you say you are? What is your motive for polluting the prestigious graduation ceremony?
“Undoubtedly, we are in an age of freedom of expression but that freedom has limits. Hate and uncivilised acts are not the character of a morally upright student,” he said.
He wondered whether Wong cared that not only other parents and students were present in the hall as well as lecturers.
“Where is his respect for the educators if that was his attitude? His degree is useless if it is not accompanied by good ethics. There goes the spirit of knowledge. All the blessings are lost. Even the height of knowledge you hold will also be polluted.
“Remember the University Technology Mara (UiTM) convocation incident in 2015? For taking a ‘selfie’ on stage, a student was suspended for one year.
“Why did UM let the former president go unpunished? Is it enough for a police report to be filed without action? Why did UM allow this rude student to take a degree?” he asked.
Ahmad wondered how the university could be ignorant of the fact that Wong headed the association which is considered racist.
“Even on social media, this association puts out racist statements and comments. Where is the spirit of patriotism and pursuit of knowledge along with good manners in the oldest university in the country?
“Letting Wong escape punishment is a huge disappointment for all across the country. This seems to have been approved by UM on the basis of free speech,” he said.
Ahmad revealed that DPPNS had urged the police and the authorities to hasten their investigation so that Wong could be arraigned in court and be convicted.
