Nabil Luqman

0f9d2dd4f71434084e2b6094de1865e23abb37bb9f28ca51feeabee679ec9be2

Social

viral

education

issue

UiTM

outrage

assignment

academic project

insensitivity

rising tension

anti racism

A group of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) students has come under intense public scrutiny following the circulation of a video showing several individuals dressed in Ku Klux Klan (KKK)-style robes as part of what is believed to be a class project. The video, filmed on the grounds of UiTM&rsquo;s Dengkil campus, sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with many questioning how such a racially charged symbol was allowed to be portrayed in an academic environment.
The students, believed to be from the Faculty of Law, are seen donning white pointed hoods and flowing robes, visually identical to those historically worn by the KKK&mdash;an extremist white supremacist group responsible for decades of racial violence in the United States. One student held a crucifix, another wielded a shovel, and a third carried a white sack believed to symbolise a severed head. They marched solemnly across a campus lawn while fellow students observed and filmed the procession.
The video quickly made its way across Malaysian social media platforms, prompting outrage from the public and raising serious concerns about racial sensitivity, academic oversight, and the role of higher education in shaping social awareness.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
UITM Dengkil students doing a KKK parade (allegedly) &amp; everyone watching in amusement rather than stopping them. Great time for our Malaysia<a href="https://twitter.com/PDRMsia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PDRMsia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MOHEOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MOHEOfficial</a> <a href="https://t.co/q7nbEAYGET">pic.twitter.com/q7nbEAYGET</a>
&mdash; J M (@YuenA_9) <a href="https://twitter.com/YuenA_9/status/1911680543290495389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&ldquo;Part of a Social Awareness Assignment&rdquo;
In the immediate aftermath, anonymous students from UiTM took to social media to provide context, claiming that the display was part of a group presentation for a course entitled Contemporary Global and Legal Issues. The course reportedly requires students to select a topic linked to international humanitarian law or crimes against humanity.
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/131bfb34cfa210ab973f934be91ece41315ee6e0c69bf7023c4749ed468e867d" />
According to one student post, the group had chosen to focus on &ldquo;the history and impact of the Ku Klux Klan and systemic racism&rdquo; and were given approval by a lecturer to explore the topic. However, the approval was allegedly limited to the topic itself&mdash;there was no prior approval for a costumed performance or parade.
UiTM later issued an official statement, confirming that the controversial imagery emerged from an academic presentation carried out within a classroom setting. The university clarified that the project was designed to challenge students to explore global human rights issues, and that the use of visual aids&mdash;including costumes&mdash;was intended to deepen understanding and provoke critical thought.
&ldquo;The theme was racial discrimination, and the students chose to portray the KKK as an example of racial hatred from a global perspective,&rdquo; said Professor Datuk Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Communications). &ldquo;This was part of a larger classroom discussion on the history of human rights violations.&rdquo;
He added that the presentation was conducted in a closed environment and was not intended to offend or insult any religion, race, or cultural group.
The KKK: A Symbol of Hatred
&nbsp;
While the university attempted to reframe the incident within an academic context, the symbolism remains highly offensive to many. The KKK, formed in the aftermath of the American Civil War in 1865, is infamous for its campaign of racial terror against African Americans and other minorities. Members are historically associated with lynchings, church bombings, and violent attacks, particularly during the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights Movement.
Even in modern times, the Klan remains active in certain parts of the United States, albeit in smaller, fragmented groups. Its emblematic white robes and pointed hoods are globally recognised symbols of white supremacy, racial hatred, and ethnic violence.
In Malaysia&rsquo;s multiracial society&mdash;where ethnic harmony is a foundational pillar of national identity&mdash;the imagery was especially jarring. &ldquo;There is no neutral context for dressing like the KKK,&rdquo; said one user on X (formerly Twitter). &ldquo;Whether it&rsquo;s in the US or Malaysia, it is a deeply offensive, violent symbol.&rdquo;
Internal Miscommunication and Rising Tensions
Online backlash intensified when it was revealed that students involved in the project allegedly staged a separate photoshoot and uploaded images of themselves in costume to social media without informing their lecturer or university authorities. It is unclear whether the original in-class presentation involved similar theatrics, or whether the viral footage was from a rehearsal or post-presentation stunt.
Adding to the controversy, individuals who criticised the project on social media claimed to have been subjected to online harassment and threats. One student who initially raised concerns via Instagram alleged that he was contacted by a member of the group involved and was pressured to delete his post.
Screenshots shared publicly suggest that the individuals issuing the threats were attempting to suppress criticism and control the narrative surrounding the incident.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
screenshots of the alleged threatening words 2/3 <a href="https://t.co/x2VwhzIr2o">pic.twitter.com/x2VwhzIr2o</a>
&mdash; yapxiang #PandangKeSabah 🍉 (@yapxiang) <a href="https://twitter.com/yapxiang/status/1911738659751203232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
got this in my dm, hope it helps to add context to this incident <a href="https://t.co/zt9cjbnOxi">pic.twitter.com/zt9cjbnOxi</a>
&mdash; yapxiang #PandangKeSabah 🍉 (@yapxiang) <a href="https://twitter.com/yapxiang/status/1911774956935135247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

UiTM Urges Understanding, But Netizens Demand Accountability
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/7cc8eabfc13b92a68d20bb0ea4217fb2506297543bbd16c47f844f9c83948cf1" />
In its public statement, UiTM urged the public to view the incident in its full academic context, stressing that the assignment was part of a broader effort to cultivate civic responsibility and ethical discourse among students.
&ldquo;The use of costume and visual elements was not intended to glorify hate, but rather to confront it and educate others about the history of racial discrimination,&rdquo; the statement read. &ldquo;UiTM will continue to support efforts that enhance critical thinking and global awareness among its students.&rdquo;
Still, this explanation did little to quell the growing backlash. Critics argue that even if the students&rsquo; intent was educational, the method was highly inappropriate and demonstrated a lack of sensitivity to racial history.
&ldquo;Academic freedom is not a blank cheque to shock and offend,&rdquo; said one commentator. &ldquo;There are ways to teach about racism without romanticising or replicating its most grotesque elements.&rdquo;
Some called on UiTM to introduce stricter academic guidelines to prevent similar missteps, while others demanded a formal apology and a public review of how the assignment was approved and supervised.
A Broader Conversation on Race and Education
The incident has since sparked national conversation about how race, history, and social justice are taught in Malaysian institutions. Many educators and activists have weighed in, suggesting that universities must be more mindful of the cultural and emotional impact of the materials and methods they allow.
&ldquo;What&rsquo;s most troubling is the apparent detachment from the symbolic weight of what the students were wearing,&rdquo; said an academic from another Malaysian university. &ldquo;This was not just a costume&mdash;it is a uniform tied to slavery, racial lynchings, and ethnic genocide. That should not be taken lightly.&rdquo;
Others noted the irony of such imagery being used in a Malaysian university, where issues of race, affirmative action, and national unity remain hot-button topics.
Looking Forward: Teachable Moment or Missed Opportunity?
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/1f6d2ac5b1c2eb8a01d0f3bb5c2a14ce4faf219871a56f121b1ca84c0490b1cc" />
While UiTM has reiterated that the matter is being addressed internally, there has been no public announcement of disciplinary action or further investigation. However, the broader implications of the incident continue to ripple through Malaysian discourse.
Some have expressed hope that the controversy might be a catalyst for more responsible and inclusive teaching practices in the future.
&ldquo;This could be a teachable moment&mdash;if handled correctly,&rdquo; said one social commentator. &ldquo;But only if we stop defending poor judgment and start fostering real understanding about why symbols like the KKK should never be trivialised.&rdquo;
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments. 
&nbsp;
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media &amp; various cross-references for context.
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UiTM has defended its students, urging the public to view the incident within the academic context of an anti-racism assignment.

4ed3c1028ba7671ff48bdde7de43d5ddd6586aa139277ee0e9ca78d6684a0733

UiTM Students In KKK Robes Spark National Outrage: Academic Project Or Cultural Insensitivity?

UiTM Students In KKK Robes Spark National Outrage: Academic Project Or Cultural Insensitivity?

UiTM has defended its students, urging the public to view the incident within the academic context of an anti-racism assignment.

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