A Malaysian university grilled a student for two hours over articles he wrote for the campus newspaper and an opposition party organ, warning that future articles would have to be vetted by the university authorities first.
According to a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, third-year mass communication student Ali Bukhari Amir was grilled by an investigative committee of the Science University of Malaysia on 13 December 2004. The five-member committee comprised the university’s senior staff from academic and non-academic departments.
A 16 December 2004 report in independent Internet daily Malaysiakini said that Ali was also warned not to talk about the questioning.
In his article entitled ‘Campus democracy is dead’, Ali had criticised the university authorities for allowing a hostel to hold a concert a la ‘American Idol’. This article appeared on 31 August 2004 on an opposition party’s publication’s website Harakah Daily and on 2 September 2004 in its bimonthly print edition, Harakah. Ali had deemed the staging of the concert inappropriate in an institution of higher learning and linked it to the abolition of the student hostel council election. He had alleged that with an appointed council favoured by the university authorities, such activities would find an easier passage through.
In another article entitled ‘Idealistic Undergraduates beat Aspiring Undergraduates by a whisker 19-18’, published on 27 September 2004 in the campus newspaper Berita Kampus, he had categorised candidates in the campus election into anti- and pro-establishment groups, naming the latter as the winner.
According to the source, the investigation committee has not decided on any action against Ali, although the possibility of him being called up again remains. Ali has not been told what offence he committed and under which law.
The university has been clamping down on student activism and freedom of expression in recent years. Just last month, the university fined a third year journalism student Soh Sook Hwa for campaigning during the general election earlier this year. In 2003, the Chinese Language Society of the university was suspended for a year because its members were involved in a campaign against a law that allows indefinite detention without trial. In 2002, Lee Yen Ting, among others, was suspended a semester and fined for picketing against a controversial policy that allegedly threatens mother tongue education. In 2001, Choo Chon Kai, a top chemistry student, was suspended a semester for possessing and selling badges protesting a detention-without-trial law.
Background
The Malaysian Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 allows students to be prosecuted for speaking to the media without prior permission from University authorities. They are not allowed to join political parties and on entry to university must take a pledge of obedience to the Government.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Write to the university’s deputy chancellor and deputy vice-chancellor expressing concern over the infringement on the freedom of expression and association of students, and urging him not to take action against students for exercising their fundamental rights.
Professor Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
Vice Chancellor
Office of the Vice Chancellor
Science University of Malaysia
11800 USM Penang
Malaysia
Tel: 604-657 3987
Fax: 604-656 5401
E-mail: vc@usm.my
Associate Professor Dato’ Jamaluddin Mohaiadin
Deputy Vice Chancellor
Student Affairs and Development Division
Science University of Malaysia
Tel: 604-653 3106 or 653 3888 ext 3449
Fax: 604-657 3761
E-mail: dvc_stu@notes.usm.my