Over the past few days, University of Malaya (UM) has issued three notices warning its students not to be involved in 'undesirable' activities which could tarnish the good name of the university.

The notices, issued by the university's student affairs and alumni office or Hal-Ehwal Pelajar (HEP), have been put up at all the notice boards on campus since last Saturday.

The first notice warns students not to publish and distribute "poison-pen letters, unauthorised (haram) leaflets, false news, false statements that humiliate the university, and printed materials without written permission from the HEP".

"This is because such actions are against the positive values and the wish of the government that the students concentrate in their studies and intellectual activities," read the notice written in Bahasa Malaysia.

The notice explains that due to the behaviour of a small number of pro-opposition students who have tarnished the image of UM, the university has to take action against them for producing, printing and distributing prohibited materials.

The second notice warns students against attending the seminar organised by Institut Kajian Dasar (IKD) in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday. Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was a key speaker at the event.

The notice claims that IKD is a tool and agent of the opposition parties to disseminate allegations and lies against the government.

IKD, established in 1985, is a well known Anwar's think-tank group. Mainly funded by Konrad Adenauer Foundation, IKD organises conferences and seminars for university students and youths.

Trip to see fire flies

In the notice, the university warns students not to get involved into any unauthorised seminars, assemblies and demonstrations organised by unauthorised associations and political parties.

"Penalties and stern action will be taken against students under the Universities and University Colleges Act (Amendment) 1975 if found to be involved in the activities concerned," it stressed.

The third notice was prohibiting students from participating in a trip to see fire flies in Kuala Selangor. The trip was organised by Umany (University Malaya Association of New Youth), an unregistered UM student organisation deemed to be anti-establishment.

The notice claims the trip was organised by an 'unauthorised' organisation and action will be taken against those taking part.

Meanwhile, a random check by malaysiakini at the campus found that the notices have been put up in all the faculties and hostels.

Deputy UM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Razali Agus was unavailable for comment since yesterday.