No UMS student involved in rally

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KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s (UMS) stand insofar as its students is concerned, is that education comes first, especially with the final exams just around the corner.

UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student and Alumni Affairs) Datuk Dr Kasim Md Mansur said the university is strictly monitoring its students’ activities to ensure that they are not involved in outdoor events, which they fear could affect their studies.

Asked whether any of their students had participated in the recent Himpunan Sabah Bangkit at the Red Square of Chong Thien Vun Park in the city, Dr Kasim had this to say.

“We have earlier issued a notice warning to the students to avoid any involvement in the street rally, and so far we are not aware if any of our students had participated in the demonstration, which was said to comprise some university students,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

Kasim disclosed that three students from UMS Labuan International Campus were found trying to travel from the island to the city centre but the university was able to deter them.

“The reason why UMS did not allow the students to participate in this kind of activities was because the parents had given us the full responsibility to ensure their children would graduate from university.

“If UMS finds out that the students had participated in the street rally, in all likelihood, they would be hauled up for a disciplinary enquiry and be suspended if found guilty,” said Kasim.

He stressed that the final exams are very important for the students and they must remain focused. UMS discourages students from taking part in any outdoor activities during final exams to ensure that they would have more time to focus on studies.

Kasim said UMS had been briefed by the police that the street rally was under control and there were no reports of UMS students having taken part in the Himpunan Sabah Bangkit held at the public park next to the court house that was organized by Gabungan NGO Menuntut Hak Rakyat Sabah (GEGAR).