PETALING JAYA: Higher education minister Zambry Abd Kadir has defended a Universiti Malaya (UM) student who questioned a fundraiser for Najib Razak, saying she would not face action from his ministry or the university.
In a TikTok video posted today, Zambry also urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to examine social media posts and accounts involved in the backlash against Ummi Umairah Bakhit, including whether fake accounts were being used.
“Some are saying that this student has been intimidated, threatened, verbally abused and so on,” he said in his video.
He said such intimidation was unacceptable, adding that Ummi could lodge a police report to enable the authorities to investigate.
“I want to stress that she has the right to speak. I hope freedom of expression can be exercised responsibly, respectfully and based on facts,” he said.
Zambry also cautioned political figures against using the student as a tool for propaganda, saying she risked becoming a victim of political agendas.
He also claimed that some ministers had called for T-shirts featuring Ummi to be made.
Ummi, an economics undergraduate, drew widespread attention at the International Young Future Leaders Summit in Kuala Lumpur after she questioned donations to help Najib pay a court-imposed fine of RM50 million.
During a dialogue with former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari and Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, she asked how future leaders could oppose corruption while people were donating to the fundraiser.
Last Saturday, UM vice-chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman said no disciplinary action had been taken against Ummi and that students should be given room to express their views.