opinion True student activists struggle for a better campus environment where students can realise their potential regardless of sex, race, religion or even political allegiance. In Malaysian campuses, a similar battle is raging.

And with every campus elections, there would come a tinge of hope that things would improve.

In Universiti Malaya, students are hoping their online registration system would be revamped so they need not wait for hours under the scorching sun to register for the course of their choice.

In Universiti Sains Malaysia, students are asking the authorities not to further delay the disbursement of their higher education loan so that they don't have to study on an empty stomach.

In Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Chinese students are seeking the freedom to carry out cultural activities and teach Mandarin to their peers.

In a nutshell, what students are demanding everywhere is transparency in their respective university's administration and consultation.

'Real struggle'

They also want a say at the national level because they view problems occurring in campuses as an extension of policies implemented by the government.

They want control over their own lives. Free to think and free to make choices, without fear. After all, they are 'thinking adults'.

This is the 'real struggle' of student activists in Malaysia but this is not what certain quarters want it to be.

Like it or not, campus politics has always been tainted by 'outside influences'.

Students do not live in isolation. They have their stand on issues and they want the space to express their views.

No doubt some students may be involved in partisan politics. After all, in a democracy, everyone is entitled to a political opinion, even students.

But one question we often forget to ask is, why are these students so critical of the government?

Were they 'indoctrinated' as such by the opposition, namely PAS, who has inculcated a feeling of 'hostility' towards the powers that be, or could the real problem lie with the government itself?

Those who believe that students are being indoctrinated by PAS, are simply generalising student politics.

They forget that this same group of Muslim students were not only tolerated, but also supported by authorities in the past, allowing them the avenue to establish their so-called "networks" in local campuses.

However, this scenario changed dramatically in 1998 with the sacking and subsequent jailing of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

But the government which focused primarily on vocal Malay students, overlooked the rise of Chinese student leaders as another so-called opposition force in campus.

Since the Anwar crisis, a growing number of Chinese students are broadening their political horizon which was once restricted to 'ethnic politics'.

During a recent Universiti Malaya election debacle, 10 candidates, nine of them Chinese, were disqualified for allegedly violating various election regulations.

This group was believed to be supportive of the previous student council which was labelled as "pro-opposition".

These candidates are believed to be critical of the bureaucracy in UM which resulted in various inefficiencies, notably the online registration system. Chinese groups also face difficulty in getting their activities endorsed by the university's administration.

Real enemy

Meanwhile, one USM student leader claims that their real enemy is actually the Student Affairs Department - which regulates all student activities.

Former students lament that USM, which used to pride itself of being the most liberal and culturally-vibrant university in Malaysia as far as student activities were concerned, is now seeing that reputation erode.

Earlier this year, USM authorities fined the Chinese Language Society debating team for allegedly participating in a competition without their approval.

Several Chinese students were also harassed by the university for sporting anti-Internal Security Act badges.

Meanwhile, a student leader from UTM said the university's Chinese groups are in a dilemma because they co-operated with the "green group" (PAS supporters) in opposing the "blue group" (Barisan Nasional supporters).

While the Chinese groups are against the hardcore Islamic leanings of the green group, they could not work with the blue group because they disagreed over issues such as the Universities and University Colleges Act and the ISA.

Sadly, the media could only see campus elections as a "proxy war" between Umno and PAS and how one "outdoes" the other in gaining the support of the younger generation.

Real campus issues are more often than not ignored by those who are too obsessed with this so-called power struggle.

Those who are critical of their university administration and government are labelled "pro-opposition" while those who are supportive of the status quo are considered "pro-government".

But in reality, when free from stereotyping and labelling, the so-called pro-opposition students are actually fighting for their own cause, not that of any party, opposition or otherwise.