Shun protests, Selangor Sultan tells students
Protests were not part of local culture, said Sultan Sharafuddin. — File picPUTRAJAYA, May 23 — The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has advised university students, particularly those from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), against participating in street demonstrations.
The Sultan, who is also UPM Chancellor, said street demonstrations were very much against the country’s culture as they caused various problems to the community.
“It is normal that when people hold mass processions in the city there will be chaos because some will act based on emotion, which cannot be controlled,” he said at the Gemilang Akademia UPM, here today.
Thus, Sultan Sharafuddin was against UPM students being involved in such demonstrations that exposed them to legal action and charges in court, which could lead to their expulsion.
“Students should concentrate on their lectures or be at the library to revise their lessons, which is in line with their responsibilities as university students.
“We must remember that there are many more students who don’t have the opportunity to pursue university education, thus do not waste the opportunity given and disappoint your parents and family members,” the Sultan said.
The Ruler said students were the country’s assets and their success was also an achievement for the country.
At the function, Sultan Sharafuddin presented the Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship Award to 15 academic staff who excelled in their service.
Out of the 15 recipients, three were chosen to receive the highest award, namely the Vice-Chancellor’s Special Awards.
The three were Professor Madya Dr Zeenathul Nazariah Allaudin from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicines for the teaching, pure science cluster and health category; Professor Datuk Dr Yaakob Che Man from the Faculty of Food Science and Technology for the science cluster and food technology research category; and Professor Dr Fatimah Mohamed Arshad from the Agriculture and Food Policies Study Institute. — Bernama
