USM probe shifts to students website
Nurul NazirinPublished: Jan 28, 2005 6:38 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The focus of Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) investigation concerning undergraduate Ali Bukhari Amir has now shifted to the contents on his website and his role in the formation of a writers' group.
Ali Bukhari Amir was initially investigated for his published articles. Now the university authorities are zeroing in on his website and the writers' alliance he formed.
The focus of Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) investigation concerning undergraduate Ali Bukhari Amir has now shifted to the contents on his website and his role in the formation of a writers' group.
The 28-year-old final-year communications student was initially investigated over his articles that appeared in the campus publication, Berita Kampus, and opposition party PAS organ, Harakah.
The articles touched on partisan politics which is rampant on campuses and the stifling of students' intellectual growth by the universities.
Ali had earlier been warned by the investigating committee not to divulge details of the probe to the media. He was also told to get permission from the vice-chancellor if he wanted his articles published in future.
According to the student, the decision to probe his website and the writers' alliance - which is a loose group of varsity student writers - was made after a 30-minute discussion between officials from the university's security division and himself on Wednesday.
USM Securities Division Head Noor Rizan Khalid had also asked Ali to provide a written explanation on when and why he created the website.
He was also quizzed regarding the cheques he had received from various publications for his earlier articles. Scans of two cheques - RM150 from Utusan Malaysia and RM40 from the Consumer Association of Penang - were uploaded on his website.
"Those are (token) amounts I received for writing," he said, adding, "They wanted to know why I collected money without permission of the vice-chancellor."
Promoting new ideas
On the writers' alliance, called Federal Students Movement, Ali, who heads the group, said it is made up of writers from local universities who promote new ideas for social development.
He claimed the objective of the movement is to gather writers and discuss new ideas.
"We believe good actions are rooted in good thoughts, good way of thinking. Writing can 'right' our way of thinking," he said.
Students in Malaysia are bound by the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), which some quarters claim restricts intellectual growth and curbs rights.
Last year, several USM students were hauled up for breaching regulations. Among them was a final year journalism student who was fined for campaigning during the general election.
The 28-year-old final-year communications student was initially investigated over his articles that appeared in the campus publication, Berita Kampus, and opposition party PAS organ, Harakah.
The articles touched on partisan politics which is rampant on campuses and the stifling of students' intellectual growth by the universities.
Ali had earlier been warned by the investigating committee not to divulge details of the probe to the media. He was also told to get permission from the vice-chancellor if he wanted his articles published in future.
According to the student, the decision to probe his website and the writers' alliance - which is a loose group of varsity student writers - was made after a 30-minute discussion between officials from the university's security division and himself on Wednesday.
USM Securities Division Head Noor Rizan Khalid had also asked Ali to provide a written explanation on when and why he created the website.
He was also quizzed regarding the cheques he had received from various publications for his earlier articles. Scans of two cheques - RM150 from Utusan Malaysia and RM40 from the Consumer Association of Penang - were uploaded on his website.
"Those are (token) amounts I received for writing," he said, adding, "They wanted to know why I collected money without permission of the vice-chancellor."
Promoting new ideas
On the writers' alliance, called Federal Students Movement, Ali, who heads the group, said it is made up of writers from local universities who promote new ideas for social development.
He claimed the objective of the movement is to gather writers and discuss new ideas.
"We believe good actions are rooted in good thoughts, good way of thinking. Writing can 'right' our way of thinking," he said.
Students in Malaysia are bound by the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), which some quarters claim restricts intellectual growth and curbs rights.
Last year, several USM students were hauled up for breaching regulations. Among them was a final year journalism student who was fined for campaigning during the general election.
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