Wong Yan Ke has tried and failed to get an appointment with Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim, the target of the graduate’s controversial one-man anti-racism protest.
Wong, who demanded Rahim’s resignation over alleged racism at his convocation earlier this month, said he subsequently made several unsuccessful requests for a meeting with Rahim.
“I have twice made personal requests to meet him so that we can clear the air and I have also made the request several times during my interviews with the press.”
“However, my requests have not been entertained,” said the Penang-born student.
Wong’s decision to use his graduation as a platform for his protest has earned him censure from some of his fellow UM students who urged the university to cancel Wong’s degree to punish him for his insolence.
UM lodged a police report against Wong but said in a statement that it believed in freedom of speech.
Wong has urged the UM board of directors to retract the police report if they truly respect freedom.
Wong has since been called in by the cops to record his statement.
Wong said he was standing up against racism after Rahim’s speech at a Malay gathering was widely reported by the media.
At the Malay Dignity Congress, Rahim allegedly said in a speech that the change of government after the general election had destroyed Malay political dominance and that Malay privileges were now being questioned by the other communities. He allegedly went on to warn the non-Malay communities not to challenge the social contract they had with the Malays.
A meeting, said Wong, was the best way for the two sides to explain themselves.
Efforts to reach Rahim for comment were unsuccessful. – TMI