Fresh off his release from police custody, Suara Mahasiswa UMS president Fadhil Kassim vow to hold the “Gempur Rasuah Sabah 3.0” rally, signalling he will not back down despite arrests and police probe.

Fadhil said plans were already underway for the rally as part of an escalation of the students’ campaign for clean governance and institutional accountability.

“We’re discussing the possibility of a third rally. Our movement doesn’t stop just because we were detained. 

“If anything, what happened today strengthens our resolve,” he said on Tuesday night. 

Fadhil, along with fellow student Alif Danial and activist Sabir Syarifuddin, had spent nearly nine hours in detention after being arrested earlier in the day. 

All three are being investigated under Section 4 of the Sedition Act and Section 509 of the Penal Code, in connection with the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 protest held over the weekend.

Despite police scrutiny and political pressure, Fadhil said the student movement will continue organising, and warned that Sabahans can expect further action if authorities continue to ignore their demands.

“We’ve made it clear — this is about corruption, not about any political party. As long as the issues remain unaddressed, we’ll keep coming back,” he added.

No date has been set for the next rally, but organisers say the planning will continue even as the students prepare to return to the police station on June 26 for further questioning.

The previous protest, which ended with the symbolic burning of a placard featuring the prime minister’s image, had sparked intense public reaction and led to the arrests. 

Government officials including Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir have since appealed for restraint, urging institutions not to take action that could jeopardise the students’ future.

UMS has yet to announce whether disciplinary proceedings will be initiated. – June 24, 2025