Universiti Malaya's (UM) student body wants the campus authorities to clarify charges that they have pre-arranged six students to ask questions that they prepared for the talk by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao this afternoon.

In a statement released this morning, UM's Student Representative Council (MPMUM) said it had learnt that the campus authority had selected six students from different racial backgrounds to ask questions it had prepared in order to avoid any incident that could embarrass the Chinese government.

"If the information is true, it will make UM the laughing stock of the world because a university that once enjoyed a high reputation in Asia has chosen to bow to a superpower to avoid questions sensitive to a Chinese leader.

"This is against the spirit of academic freedom and independent thinking," the MPMUM statement said.

NONE The student council said it would be meaningless to invite Wen ( left ) to visit the university if the campus authority assigned specific students to ask preset questions.

The council also said it wants to send representatives to the talk this evening to ask questions on China's human rights record.

"As a leader of big country, Wen should explain China's human right record to the world.

"These include the detention of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, the recent arrest of famous artist and human right activist Ai Weiwei and also the truth behind 1989 Tiananmen tradegy."

Closed-door event

Numerous attempts have been made to contact UM deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs and Alumni) Rohana Yusof for clarification, but there has been no response from her.

According to a Facebook page set up by UM's Chinese Language Society, which is involved in organising Wen's talk, it was initially open to public but later declared a closed-door event.

The belated move has sparked speculation among the netizens that it is a bid to stop members of the public from raising sensitive questions that could embarrass the Chinese leader.

A student activist has also said he had heard that the university screened student participants after asking a number of student organisations to submit a list of names.

However, UM vice-chancellor Ghauth Jasmon has dismissed talk that tight control would be imposed over Wen's talk at the campus and that the students' questions would not be vetted.

Wen is expected to arrive this afternoon for a two-day visit. This is his second trip to Malaysia in six years.