KUALA LUMPUR: Ahead of national elections, at least three students were arrested on Sunday in Malaysia after they were protesting in front of the Prime Minister's residence, police confirmed to Bikyanews.com on Monday morning. The students' arrest has led to a rise in anger and frustration from activists, who told Bikyanews.com that they would not be silence and arrests “would only worsen the situation.” “We demand to be heard and speak out against the policies of the government,” said one activist, asking that their name not be published. Putrajaya deputy police chief Mak Pak Chuai said the students were leading 100 other students to send a memorandum to Prime Minister Najib Razak. The students who arrived in cars and motorcycles demanded the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) to write off loans. “We gave the students the opportunity to speak for 10 minutes without microphone but they refused. Three students were arrested for disrupting public order about one hour later.” The students disagreed however with the police action, saying they were simply protesting peacefully and should not have been arrested or forced from the area. “How can we call our country open and free when this happens,” the student asked. BN
