Five months after the campus polls, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang continues its witch hunt.

It has now hauled up for students to face disciplinary action and they will have to attend a hearing o Feb 22.

According to one of the students Wong Weng Hoo, the four received the letters from the university student affairs department on Tuesday. The letters dated Feb 7 were signed by assistant registrar Haryani Hasenan.

Wong, a second year Chemistry student, was charged with making statements at a press conference held in USM on polling day.

The rest, who declined to be named, were charged for distributing unauthorised leaflets during the election calling on students to boycott the polls.

Under the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971, students are not allowed to talk to the media or distribute any items without the written permission of the university's vice-chancellor.

"Instead of troubling students, the university authority should be more concerned about issues in the campus such as the hike in tuition fee, hostel fee, internet fee and increasing of criminal rates in the campus," said Wong when contacted.

In a statement yesterday, a students group - calling itself the USM Student Progressive Front - criticised the university authority for violating the students' rights and labelling the action taken by the university as "out-dated, conservative and ridiculous".

"We are seeking legal advise from a lawyer to ensure that the hearing is transparent and fair," said the front's spokesperson Lee Huat Seng when contacted.

Hearing postponed

The political culture in local public universities is centred around what are commonly termed as 'pro-establishment' and 'anti-establishment' groups.

During last September's campus elections, the 'pro-establishment' faction for the first time took control of all 17 universities amid allegations of irregularities and boycotts from their rival.

Some of the students involved in the boycott were later hauled up by their respective university authorities to face disciplinary action.

The 'anti-establishment' faction then launched a series of campaigns and demonstrations through Malaysia Students Solidarity (SMM), a national coalition formed by 'anti-establishment' student groups.

However, until today no student has been penalised and all hearings have been postponed. After a series of protests and support given by ministers and the civil society, many thought the witch hunt had ended but USM has turned up the heat again.

Living in terror

"USM's action shows that as long as the case is not closed, the university authority can always take action against students," said SMM spokesperson Kong Wee Cheng when contacted.

"Students are living in terror. They are worried," he added.

Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth section head Tan Soon Lim said the wing will inform other youth organisations to express their solidarity with the students.
Meanwhile, Suaram coordinator Chang Lih Kang said the UUCA must be abolished and replaced with a new law to solve this problem once and for all.