In Malaysia: USM Student Facing Discipline Action for Issuing Press Statement and Distributing Leaflets

URGENT APPEAL
USM Student Facing Discipline Action for Issuing Press Statement and Distributing Leaflets

Sek Choon Shiou and Wong Weng Hoo were alleged by USM authority for issuing press statement to media at foyer library Hamzah Sendut I on 29 September 2005. They were charged for offending Section 15 of the USM Regulation (Student Discipline) which state that no student, organization, body or group of student, can, without permission from Vice Chancellor, doing any representing or any other relation, either through oral or writing or other ways, to any public officer or media or public during lecture, speech or public statement or any other matter regarding on university or staff.

Ong Siew Shan, Ng Eik Cheen and Lau Shu Shi were accused by authority for distributing flyers on 11 and 29 September 2005. They were charged with an offence according to Section 12(1) under USM Regulation (Student Discipline) 1999 which state that no student, organization, body or group of students, without permission from Vice Chancellor, can publish or distributing any document at campus or out campus.
Five of them have been summoned to attend proceeding in 27 February 2006, 9am and 2.30pm. Profesor Madya Jamaluddin Mohaiadin, Deputy Vice--Chancellor of Student's Affair and Development of USM, will be the chairperson of the proceeding. If found guilty, maximum punishment they will be facing is expulsion.

Background

Last campus election was held on 29 September 2005. Student coalitions in 5 Malaysia's public university include USM were decided to boycott campus election. This action was taken because of the irregularities and frauds committed by university authority, and unfair and non-transparent practices in campus election. Students from USM were involved in the action to demand for the free and fair campus election.

Among these students, Ong Siew Shan was forced to go to Security Department to assist in an investigation late at 2am on 11 September 2005. On the other hand, Wong Weng Hoo was called for interrogation on 17 January 2006. Besides that, officer of Security Department of USM has made appointment with Lau Shu Shi for interrogation on 10 February 2006 but the mentioned officer had cancelled the appointment without any inform. Meanwhile, the other two alleged offenders, Sek Choon Shiou and Ng Eik Cheen did not receive any invite to attend investigational session. They will directly attend the proceedings without any investigation.
USM has infamous track records of suppressing student activism for last few years.

UUCA (University and University College Act) is one of the notorious repressive laws that have been used to curb student activism since 1971. Fundamental liberties of students such as freedom of expression, freedom to association and freedom of thoughts are being taken away with the existence of such laws. Notorious actions that taken by the university authorities will limit or discourage the student to think critically and it leads to endanger their competitiveness.

As Malaysian citizens, these students are facing persecution by the university authority for the issuing press statement to media and distribute flyers. It is unjust and unreasonable to forbid students to exercise their fundamental democratic freedom, which the Constituent of Malaysia provides Malaysian citizens the rights to do so.

RECOMMENDED ACTION :

We call upon civil society groups and concerned individuals to write to the USM authority, to express your concern towards the students who are fear of facing expulsion and denied their civil rights under a repressive law. You may also modify the sample letter enclosed below.

Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
· Expressing concern on the problems faced by the students
· Calling on the USM authority to ensure the civil liberties of the students are respected and protected
· Urging the USM authority not to take further action against the students for their involvement in campus election campaign
· Calling the USM authority stop harassing to exercise their fundamental liberties by using the repressive UUCA and other similar regulations

PLEASE SEND YOUR APPEALS IMMEDIATELY (before 27 february 2006) TO:

Professor Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
Vice-Chansellor
Pejabat Naib Canselor
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 Minden
Pulau Pinang
Tel: 04-6573987
Fax: 04-6565401
Email: vc@usm.my

Dato' Professor Madya Jamaluddin Mohaiadin
Deputy Vice-Chansellor
Bahagian Hal Ehwal dan Pembangunan Pelajar
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 Minden
Pulau Pinang
Tel: 04-6568869
Fax: 04-6573761
Email: dvcstu@usm.my

You are also highly recommended to send a copy of youR APPEAL letter to show YOUr concerns TO:

Y.B Datuk Mustapha B. Mohamed
Minister of Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia
Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi, Blok E3, Parcel E, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62505 Putrajaya
Tel: 03-8883 5010
Fax: 03-8889 1952
Email: menteri@mohe.gov.my

Sample letter:

To:
Professor Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
Vice Chansellor
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 04-6573987
Fax: 04-6565401
Email: dvcstu@usm.my

Drop Discipline Charges Against Sek Choon Shiou, Wong Weng Hoo, Ong Siew Shan, Ng Eik Cheen and Lau Shu Shi

Refer to the above title, we regional secretariat members of the Asian Students Association would like to show our concern to these 5 students cases.

I/We had been told that the students named above have been charged for issuing statement to press and distributing flyers without permission of Vice Chancellor. They have been summoned to attend a hearing that will be held by Division of Student Affairs and Development of USM on 27 Feb 2006.

As I/we know, rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of thoughts is provided under Federal Constitution of Malaysia. However, these 5 students are now facing persecution of the university authority for giving statement to media and distributing flyers without permission of Vice Chancellor. The charges for these students have severely violated civil liberties of an eligible voter and justice as what listed under the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

Therefore, I/we appeal to USM authority to drop the charges against these students for making statement to media and distributing flyers. USM authority should not take further action against the students for the same charges.

I/We sincerely hope that USM authority will ensure that the civil liberties of a student are always respected and protected. USM authority should stop harassing students to practice their fundamental liberties by using the repressive UUCA and other similar regulations which violated the human rights.

Thank you,
Yours faithfully,

YOUR NAME
ORGANIZATION if you have

Cc:
Y.B Datuk Mustapha B. Mohamed
Minister of Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia
Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi, Blok E3, Parcel E, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62505 Putrajaya
Tel: 03-8883 5010
Fax: 03-8889 1952
Email: menteri@mohe.gov.my
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