The student-led anti-corruption movement at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) says it will not be intimidated by legal threats or police investigations, vowing to proceed with its upcoming rally — Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 — despite mounting pressure planned next month.
The Suara Mahasiswa UMS group has been hit with a string of troubles since they announced their plan to hold the second rally scheduled June 21 to June 22.
Six members of Suara Mahasiswa UMS were recently summoned by police after issuing a press statement that criticised the use of public funds for the official birthday celebration of the Sabah Head of State, who also serves as UMS Chancellor.
The students had highlighted this spending amid ongoing water shortages and deteriorating conditions on campus.
The group’s president, Muhammad Fadhil Mohamad Kassim, is also facing a RM1.5 million defamation lawsuit filed by Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar, the head of the NGO Gerakan Bangkit Sabahan, over a social media post criticising a rally organised by the NGO.
This comes after Zulkarnain also announced plans for his NGO to hold a counter rally on the same dates after also organised a rally to clash with the student group’s on the first Gempur Rasuah Sabah rally held on December 31 last year.
“This is a clear act of intimidation meant to silence youth voices who are fighting corruption and misgovernance,” said Sudirman Arshad, spokesperson for Suara Mahasiswa, in a media statement on Tuesday.
“But we are not afraid. We will not retreat or remain silent,” he added.
The group denounced both the lawsuit and the investigation as politically motivated and revealed it was aimed at derailing their activism rather than addressing the issues they’ve raised.
The planned Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 is a follow-up to last year’s protest and will spotlight alleged governance failures in Sabah, including unresolved infrastructure problems at UMS, the handling of corruption scandals, and what they see as the prioritisation of elite interests over student and public welfare.
The statement also referenced an open letter by Sarawak-born student Rasul Rosmizan, who wrote to the Sarawak Premier to highlight dire living conditions at UMS and questioned why lavish ceremonies were funded while basic student needs went unmet.
“It’s shameful that while the state fails to provide clean water to students, large sums are spent on official anniversaries,” said Sudirman.
Among their demands are: the withdrawal of the lawsuit and police investigation, urgent repairs to campus facilities, and recognition of students’ right to free expression under the Federal Constitution.
“Don’t criminalise the youth for demanding justice. We may not have wealth, but we have ideals and the will to fight.
“Sabah does not belong to political elites. Sabah belongs to the people. We stand firm. No matter how many challenges they throw at us, we will not back down until justice and accountability are upheld,” Sudirman added. – May 28, 2025
caption – Members of the Suara Mahasiswa UMS. – May 28, 2025
