Alongside lecture notes and heavy text books, freshies in public universities now have to 'study' a mysterious booklet entitled - Current Issues (Isu-isu semasa).

The 50-page full-colour booklet of unknown origins, is laden with quotes from various ministers, particularly Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, on several contentious issues.

The booklet kicks off with a poem entitled 'Looking for eternal peace', before plunging headlong into explaining the recent fuel-price hike in four pages of statistics and quotations.

Eleven reasons were given to justify the sharp 30 sen price hike for petrol, diesel and natural gas and why Petronas profits should not be channeled into subsidies.

Following a similar format, was an explanation of the scrapping of the crooked bridge project, electricity tariff hikes, sugar shortage and Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution.

A sizeable portion of the booklet was reserved for portraying Abdullah as a patriot and having good moral fibre.

An outline of Abdullah administration's two main agendas - Ninth Malaysia Plan and Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam) - were also highlighted in the booklet.

Illegal student groups

Meanwhile, 'illegal' student groups were given an extensive nine-page treatment in the booklet.

Ten 'anti-establishment' student groups were blacklisted in the booklet as 'unregistered organisations' while seven of them were described in intricate detail.

Among them were Malaysia Students Solidarity (SMM), a national coalition of 'anti-establishment' student groups.

It was described as a group who attempts to, "influence students to participate in pro-opposition activities and hold several illegal demonstrations".

Following this, was Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (Dema) which was described as having "dominated the anti-establishment movement among Chinese students".

"It is directly monitored by Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP [...] it is a member of the Asia Student Association (ASA), an international socialist organisation," added the booklet.

According to the booklet, Dema is also supposed to be a platform for students to issue memorandums criticising (menghentam) the university administration.

The Open Dialogue Centre however, was accused of receiving funds from the National Endowment For Democracy (NED), which the booklet describes as, "an international endowment body sponsored by United States and Jews which expands its influence behind the name of democracy".

Other students groups featured were Malaysia Islamic Students Coalition (Gamis), Universiti Bangsa Utama (UBU), National Student Action Front (BBMN), and Youth and Students Coalition (GAMP).

BTN influenced?

In general, public campus politics are divided along the lines of partisan politics, with the 'pro-establishment' teams believed to be backed by the university authorities. Their rivals, the 'anti-establishment' groups, are seen as leaning towards the opposition.

Over the years, the government and campus authorities have overtly backed the pro-establishment student factions to stamp out 'anti-establishment' forces in campuses nationwide.

While there are no overt indications as to who authored the book, several students approached by malaysiakini said that the content resembled the syllabus of National Civics Bureau (Biro Tata Negara or BTN) lectures.

The government-run BTN courses comprise of patriotism lectures and military-style exercises. It is compulsary for Public Services Department scholars and some public servants to attend the course.

Contacted today, UM's Student Representative Council (MPPUM) president Mohd Efendi Omar confirmed that the booklet was published by Higher Education Ministry with the help of BTN.

The council had distributed 5,000 copies of the booklets to new students in UM, said Efendi.

He dismissed claims by the 'unregistered groups' that they were unfairly represented in the booklet.

"The booklet is good for the students. It lets them recognise these groups so they won't participate in their activities [...] it just lists out their wrongdoings, they have broken the laws," he said, adding that the booklet told the 'truth'.

Under the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), students are not allowed to participate in organised activities outside campus without the express consent of their respective vice-chancellors.

Asked on the response of the students over the booklet, Efendi said the students are happy to receive the booklets, as it had "broadened" their knowledge.

MPPUM is seen as leader to all students representatives councils in 17 public universities.

According to Oriental Daily News today, Deputy Higher Education Minister Ong Tee Kiat claimed he was unaware of such a booklet.