Varsity polls: Near sweep by pro-govt students
Beh Lih YiPublished: Sep 27, 2005 5:49 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
'Pro-establishment' students who are backed by campus authorities have won almost all seats in student representative council elections in most universities yesterday after nominations closed amidst boycotts by their rivals.
At last, everything on campus is under control. This year's student elections turn out to be a tame affair after a boycott by disgruntled student activists.
'Pro-establishment' students who are backed by campus authorities have won almost all seats in student representative council elections in most universities yesterday after nominations closed amidst boycotts by their rivals.
Boycotts were mounted in five top universities - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) - over allegations of electoral irregularities.
The boycotts launched by the anti-establishment Mahasiswa Idealis camp, which is widely regarded to be critical of the campus authorities, paved way for the pro-government Aspirasi Kerajaan camp to successfully to take the former's traditional bastions in UIA and UPSI.
Meanwhile, USM and UTM, which were controlled by the 'anti-establishment' camp after last year's election, fell to 'pro-establishment' students due to the boycott. Polling day is Thursday and will be held simultaneously in all 17 local universities.
It was also reported in the press today that the 'pro-establishment' won at Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kolej Universiti Kejuruteraan, Kolej Universiti Teknikal Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kolej Kejuruteraan Utara Malaysia and Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia.
In certain campuses, the 'pro-establishment' group are fielding additional candidates to contest for seats to allow the election to proceed.
For example, in UPM, all the 32 seats at the faculty level were returned unopposed but 23 candidates from the same camp will contest for 16 general seats.
'Pro-establishment' leading in polls
While polling on Thursday is expected to be a tame affair due to the no-contest in major universities, all eyes are on two other major varsities - Universiti Malaya (UM), which is the country's oldest university, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
'Anti-establishment' students in these two universities however were not optimistic on winning based on the latest development which did not favour them. They had accused the campus authorities of favouring the pro-government camp.
Three of the 'anti-establishment' candidates in UM were disqualified after errors were found on their nomination forms.
As nominations closed yesterday at the university, the 'pro-establishment' camp won at least 15 out of 39 seats uncontested.
A candidate from the 'anti-establishment' faction when contacted complained that university officials were evasive in answering questions over possible irregularities which could occur - such as the recording of ballot paper number - during a briefing held with all election candidates yesterday evening.
"In previous years, the student affairs department's deputy vice-chancellor would meet candidates personally but yesterday he didn't come. He sent an official which could not answer any of our queries and only replied he would convey the message to the deputy vice-chancellor," he claimed.
The candidate also questioned why the university "suddenly" decided not to prepare banners for all candidates as it had traditionally done.
"Due to the two-day campaigning period, we were really caught unprepared because the campus usually provide us with the banners. However we saw 'pro-establishment' candidates in full force with their banners during the briefing," claimed a student.
Students staying in the residential colleges were said to have been asked to fill a 'survey form' in the run-up to the campus election to state their stand - 'pro-establishment', 'anti-establishment' or 'don't know'.
UM 'anti-establishment' candidates had boycotted the campus election last year after campus authorities were allegedly acting in a biased manner towards them and it resulted the 'pro-establishment' taking over the former's stronghold for the first time since the birth of the reformasi movement in 1998.
Three-cornered fights
In UKM, several seats witnessed a three-corned fight due to a curious split within the 'pro-establishment' camp, while one seat in the Islamic studies faculty was won by 'anti-establishment' candidate due to a no-contest.
There were 33 seats open for contest in UKM. The 'anti-establishment' group fielded 33 candidates, the 'pro-establishment' camp nominated nine candidates, while the 'pro-establishment' splinter group called 'Tindakan Siswa Bersatu' (TSB), nominated 32 candidates.
The two 'pro-establishment' factions are said to be respectively led by the university's top official and a residential college head, who is known to be a key person instrumental in a series of meetings coordinated by the Higher Education Ministry.
"The three-cornered fights came as a surprise for the Aspirasi Kerajaan (government aspiration) students because they did not expect the split, which is believe linked to power struggle (between the two university officials). A number of candidates from this faction were rejected during nomination yesterday," a student said.
Asked on the chances of 'anti-establishment', he replied: "We believe the 'anti-establishment' could manage to form 'government' (student representative council) should there be no intervention or dirty tactics from the university authorities."
However, he added that the university authorities are allegedly holding a series of meetings with students to warn them to vote for the 'pro-establishment' candidates or risk expulsion from the residential college.
Boycotts were mounted in five top universities - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) - over allegations of electoral irregularities.
The boycotts launched by the anti-establishment Mahasiswa Idealis camp, which is widely regarded to be critical of the campus authorities, paved way for the pro-government Aspirasi Kerajaan camp to successfully to take the former's traditional bastions in UIA and UPSI.
Meanwhile, USM and UTM, which were controlled by the 'anti-establishment' camp after last year's election, fell to 'pro-establishment' students due to the boycott. Polling day is Thursday and will be held simultaneously in all 17 local universities.
It was also reported in the press today that the 'pro-establishment' won at Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kolej Universiti Kejuruteraan, Kolej Universiti Teknikal Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kolej Kejuruteraan Utara Malaysia and Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia.
In certain campuses, the 'pro-establishment' group are fielding additional candidates to contest for seats to allow the election to proceed.
For example, in UPM, all the 32 seats at the faculty level were returned unopposed but 23 candidates from the same camp will contest for 16 general seats.
'Pro-establishment' leading in polls
While polling on Thursday is expected to be a tame affair due to the no-contest in major universities, all eyes are on two other major varsities - Universiti Malaya (UM), which is the country's oldest university, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
'Anti-establishment' students in these two universities however were not optimistic on winning based on the latest development which did not favour them. They had accused the campus authorities of favouring the pro-government camp.
Three of the 'anti-establishment' candidates in UM were disqualified after errors were found on their nomination forms.
As nominations closed yesterday at the university, the 'pro-establishment' camp won at least 15 out of 39 seats uncontested.
A candidate from the 'anti-establishment' faction when contacted complained that university officials were evasive in answering questions over possible irregularities which could occur - such as the recording of ballot paper number - during a briefing held with all election candidates yesterday evening.
"In previous years, the student affairs department's deputy vice-chancellor would meet candidates personally but yesterday he didn't come. He sent an official which could not answer any of our queries and only replied he would convey the message to the deputy vice-chancellor," he claimed.
The candidate also questioned why the university "suddenly" decided not to prepare banners for all candidates as it had traditionally done.
"Due to the two-day campaigning period, we were really caught unprepared because the campus usually provide us with the banners. However we saw 'pro-establishment' candidates in full force with their banners during the briefing," claimed a student.
Students staying in the residential colleges were said to have been asked to fill a 'survey form' in the run-up to the campus election to state their stand - 'pro-establishment', 'anti-establishment' or 'don't know'.
UM 'anti-establishment' candidates had boycotted the campus election last year after campus authorities were allegedly acting in a biased manner towards them and it resulted the 'pro-establishment' taking over the former's stronghold for the first time since the birth of the reformasi movement in 1998.
Three-cornered fights
In UKM, several seats witnessed a three-corned fight due to a curious split within the 'pro-establishment' camp, while one seat in the Islamic studies faculty was won by 'anti-establishment' candidate due to a no-contest.
There were 33 seats open for contest in UKM. The 'anti-establishment' group fielded 33 candidates, the 'pro-establishment' camp nominated nine candidates, while the 'pro-establishment' splinter group called 'Tindakan Siswa Bersatu' (TSB), nominated 32 candidates.
The two 'pro-establishment' factions are said to be respectively led by the university's top official and a residential college head, who is known to be a key person instrumental in a series of meetings coordinated by the Higher Education Ministry.
"The three-cornered fights came as a surprise for the Aspirasi Kerajaan (government aspiration) students because they did not expect the split, which is believe linked to power struggle (between the two university officials). A number of candidates from this faction were rejected during nomination yesterday," a student said.
Asked on the chances of 'anti-establishment', he replied: "We believe the 'anti-establishment' could manage to form 'government' (student representative council) should there be no intervention or dirty tactics from the university authorities."
However, he added that the university authorities are allegedly holding a series of meetings with students to warn them to vote for the 'pro-establishment' candidates or risk expulsion from the residential college.
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