KUALA LUMPUR: It is within limits to delay the conferment of Wong Yan Ke's degree but to revoke his degree would be going overboard.
This was the view of Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan when asked to comment on the solo protest carried out by Wong during Universiti Malaya's (UM) convocation ceremony recently.
Wong who was among the UM graduands set to receive his scroll earlier this week courted anger when he held up a banner on stage, accusing the university's vice-chancellor Datuk Ir Dr Abdul Rahim Hashim of racism and called for his resignation.
On the sidelines of the Selangor Umno convention in Shah Alam this morning, Mohamad or Tok Mat told reporters that while he was not sure about what the Colleges and Universities Act, and the UM constitution have to say about such a solo protest, he was of the opinion that the university's Senate should look at the matter in detail.
"..this is because he has already completed his studies," Mohamad said.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said Wong could be forgiven if he apologised to the vice-chancellor and the university.
"He did something that has never been done before, maybe we can call him in, he has to regret what he did because it was done in a place that was not suitable," he added.
Mohamad remarked that everyone made mistakes and the one Wong made must be looked at from various angles.
"We can forgive him, if he apologises to Tuanku Chancellor and UM," Mohamad said, according to a video posted by Umno Online's Facebook account.