Kuantan: A student at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), charged with desecrating the Quran and posting offensive content on social media, has been expelled from the university. UMPSA vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Yatimah Alias, said the male student's disciplinary case was recently closed after the Student Disciplinary Committee met on March 9.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the vice-chancellor stated, "Following disciplinary proceedings, the student was found guilty and expelled under Rule 58 of the Universiti and University College (UMPSA) (Student Discipline) Rules 2024." She expressed hope that the decision serves as a lesson for all staff and students to act responsibly and avoid damaging the institution's reputation.

Prof Dr Yatimah emphasized that the university will not tolerate content that stirs hatred based on religion, race, or the royal institution, as it could fuel racial tensions and undermine public harmony. The issue of 3R-religion, race, and the royal institution-remains sensitive and requires careful handling to maintain societal peace.

On March 3, S. Vikneswaran pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to charges of desecrating the Quran, a holy text for Muslims, on February 22 with the intent to insult the religion. The 21-year-old student was also charged with using the Threads account 'ryandaselva' to intentionally share harmful content aimed at upsetting others.

The court granted the student bail of RM10,000 for both charges, ordered him to report to the police monthly, and set April 8 for the hearing. The case continues to attract significant public attention, highlighting the serious consequences of actions that threaten religious and social harmony.