Campus elections are around the corner and once again universities are turning up the heat on students seen to be aligned with the 'opposing' faction.

At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Malaysian Students Solidarity (SMM) president Ahmad Rifaudin Abdul Wahab demanded a free and fair elections.

"It is happening currently (intimidation). Many of our friends claimed that their rooms are 'ambushed' at two or three in the morning...(the raids) are conducted to scare the students," he said.

Campus elections here is saturated with partisan politics, with the contest being between two camps - 'pro-establishment' and the one described as 'pro-undergraduates'.

Ahamd Rifaudin also claimed that the raids have occurred in Universiti Malaya as well.

He also claimed that a UKM official had allegedly kicked a female undergraduate as a warning against aggressive campaigning.

He revealed that a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) undergraduate has lodged a police report over this and is even mulling legal action.

Electronic voting system

In its three-page memorandum, SMM called for an immediate stop to these scare tactics. It also wanted the electronic voting system and labeling of serial numbers in ballot papers to be abolished to ensure privacy and transparency.

According to Rifaudin, the electronic voting system - currently used in the Multimedia University, Kolej Universiti Sains and Teknologi Malaysia (Kustem) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) - is 'highly suspicious'.

He said Universiti Islam Antarabangsa could be using this system in the coming elections as well.

"In UPM a candidate who won in the previous election only garnered one vote the following year (under the electronic system).

"This is impossible, he should get at least three votes from the proposer, seconder and candidate himself," he added.

Rifaudin claimed that the electronic voting system could be manipulated by those who favoured students sponsored by the student affairs department.

He also expected a similar situation this time around.

Other demands in the memorandum included allowing students to form coalitions and publicise manifestos openly, prolonging the campaign period to five consecutive working days, allowing the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), National Human Rights Society (Hakam) to monitor the polls.

"If these claims are not met and the same problems recur, we want the deputy vice-chancellors of student affairs (in all universities) to step down," it stated.

Apart from this, SMM called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to ensure a free and fair campus elections. It also asked the Higher Education Ministry not to support any faction.

The memorandum was endorsed by 26 non-governmental organisations.

The campus elections will be held simultaneously in late September or early October.