Two Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) student leaders have claimed that their particulars have been misused by unknown persons who produced several posters, purportedly to smear their image and reputation as members of the student representatives council.

The duo, Tan Kar Hing and Kong Wee Cheng (photo) had lodged a report at the Serdang police station on Aug 12, seeking an investigation, but have yet to hear from police to date.

According to a copy of the report made available to malaysiakini, the university's student affairs department officials had held meetings recently with Chinese Malaysian students at several residential colleges.

Posters with photos of the duo were shown to those who attended - most of whom are newly-enrolled first-year students - but were then taken back immediately.

"We were accused of publishing the posters, but we're not involved at all. These do not belong to us," the duo said in their police report.

A similar report was lodged with the university's security department, but as there has been no feedback to date, the duo decided to reveal their plight.

It is learnt that the posters carried slogans such as 'we are not afraid of the university' and 'we are not afraid of the Universities and University Colleges Act'.
It is also understood that the university told students during the meetings to disassociate themselves from the duo, and that the movements of Tan and Kong were being monitored.

"Apart from tarnishing our image, I think this incident was also meant to prevent students from participating in activities and to make them afraid of associating with us," Kong said today, when asked about the possible motive.

The university could not be reached for comment.

Whose work?

Kong said prior to the incident, a CD containing their photos had been confiscated by the university authorities during a spot check at a students' event. However, he was uncertain as to whether the posters were created by the campus authorities.

"I do not want to jump to conclusions and link the two incidents, but I hope the university can provide a satisfactory explanation and take appropriate action against the perpetrators," said the 23-year-old final year biotechnology student.


"It has been a month since the reports were lodged with the police and university, but no investigation has been carried out. I have been waiting for an explanation," he added.

Both Tan and Kong are seen to be aligned with the 'anti-establishment' faction in UPM. Kong is the president of the Chinese Language Society, which is still not recognised by the university after 15 years in existence.

The incident involving the posters is believed to be linked to the upcoming campus elections, expected to be held by the end of the month or early next month.

Of the 48 seats on the UPM student representatives council, six are controlled by the 'anti-establishment' faction, with the 'pro-establishment' (government aspiration) camp holding the rest.

Some UPM candidates had boycotted last year's campus elections by withdrawing their candidacy at the eleventh hour due to the implementation of an electronic voting system that did not allow for verification of the votes.