Urgent Appeal on UUCA arrests - Malaysia

URGENT APPEAL

23rd May 2010

To all,

Withdraw University & University College Act 1971 (UUCA) Charge on Muhammad Hilman bin Idham, Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin, Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha & Woon King Chai Immediately

The students above, Muhammad Hilman bin Idham, Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin , Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha and Woon King Chai are second year Political Science students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has been charged by university authority because they were found to be in the vicinity of the Hulu Selangor by-election and allegedly for showing support, sympathy or opposition towards political parties in Malaysia. They are required to attend university disciplinary proceeding on the following date:

2^nd June (Wednesday) : Muhammad Hilman bin Idham

3^rd June (Thursday) : Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin

Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha

Woon King Chai

9.00am at Bilik Mesyuarat Canselori, Aras 6, Bangunan Canselori.

We strongly feel that the UUCA charge should be withdrawn because:

1. These 4 students are second year Political Science students with good academic achievements, who are in the vicinity of the Hulu Selangor by-election to observe the campaigning for academic research purposes
2. Article 119 of Federal Constitution in Malaysia specifically states that every citizens above the age of 21 is qualified to vote, which is a form of expression and participation in politics. Thus, the provisions under Section 15(5)(a) of the University & University College Act 1971 which disallows students from expressing support and participating in politics is in direct contradiction with the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
3. These 4 students have shown genuine efforts in improving the standings of the university rankings through academic achievements and thus their efforts in observing the Hulu Selangor by-election for academic purposes must not be demonised and punished by their own university

Background of the incident:

On 22/4/10, Muhammad Hilman bin Idham, Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin, Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha and Woon King Chai were travelling in 2 different vehicles, a van and a sedan, with 3 other members of the public in Hulu Selangor to observe the by-election campaigning process.

1. The van carrying Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin, Woon King Chai and friends were stopped by the police at a road block in Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Baru at around 11:00am. They were held at the road-block for more than an hour until the arrival of UKM’s Student Affairs Department officials, who immediately accused the Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin and Woon King Chai of participating in politics and expressing support or sympathy towards political parties who were contesting in the by-election.

The police then conducted a search of the van which revealed several wrapped and sealed packets of fliers placed at the back of the van by a member of the party, who accompanied the group of students to tour the Hulu Selangor by-election area and was travelling in a separate car because their own car could not fit the fliers. Even though the fliers and video CDs do not belong to the students but the university assumed this to be of expressing support or sympathy towards political parties.

The police and university officials immediately assumed that these fliers belonged to the students and brought the students in to the Hulu Selangor Police Headquarters for questioning and to record their statements. They were held in the police station for 9 hours before finally being released on bail. They were to report in on 5/5/10 at Kuala Kubu Baru but before reaching that date, the students were told by the Investigating Officer that the police no longer want to pursue this matter and have dropped the investigation.

2. Muhammad Hilman bin Idham and Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha were travelling in a black sedan with another member of the public and was stopped by the police at around 12:30pm while they were eating. They were stopped at Pekan Rasa, Jalan Kuala Kali and were held by the police until the arrival of the university’s Student Affairs Department, who then immediately recognized them as students of UKM and accused them of participating in politics and expressing support or sympathy towards political parties who were contesting in the by-election.

The police then conducted a search of the black sedan which revealed fliers and video CDs that was placed there by a member of the party, who was accompanying the group students to tour the Hulu Selangor by-election to observe the campaigning process. Even though the fliers and video CDs do not belong to the students but the university assumed this to be of expressing support or sympathy towards political parties.

The police and university officials immediately assumed that these fliers belonged to the students and brought the students in to the Hulu Selangor Police Headquarters for questioning and to record their statements. They were held in the police station for 9 hours before finally being released on bail. They were to report in on 5/5/10 at Kuala Kubu Baru but before reaching that date, the students were told by the Investigating Officer that the police no longer want to pursue this matter and have dropped the investigation.

On 13/5/10, Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin received a letter, sent by the university by hand through a representative of the Student Affairs Department requiring him to attend university disciplinary proceedings on the 3rd of June (Thursday), 9.00am at Bilik Mesyuarat Canselori, Aras 6, Bangunan Canselori. He is being charged by the university with Section 15(5)(a) of the University & University College Act 1971, which prohibits students from participating or expressing sympathy or support for any political parties. He has been charged by the university prior of any investigations by the university, without his knowledge. He is not allowed to be represented by a lawyer during proceedings and can only be represented by himself, or another student or a staff of the university.

On 14/5/10, Muhammad Hilman bin Idham received a letter, sent by the university by hand through a representative of the Student Affairs Department requiring him to attend university disciplinary proceedings on the 2nd of June (Wednesday), 9.00am at Bilik Mesyuarat Canselori, Aras 6, Bangunan Canselori. He is being charged by the university with Section 15(5)(a) of the University & University College Act 1971, which prohibits students from participating or expressing sympathy or support for any political parties. He has been charged by the university prior of any investigations by the university, without his knowledge. He is not allowed to be represented by a lawyer during proceedings and can only be represented by himself, or another student or a staff of the university.

On 16/5/10, Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha received a letter, sent by the university through registered mail requiring her to attend university disciplinary proceedings on the 3rd of June (Thursday), 9.00am at Bilik Mesyuarat Canselori, Aras 6, Bangunan Canselori. She is also being charged by the university with Section 15(5)(a) of the University & University College Act 1971, which prohibits students from participating or expressing sympathy or support for any political parties. She has been charged by the university prior of any investigations by the university, without her knowledge. She is not allowed to be represented by a lawyer during proceedings and can only be represented by herself, or another student or a staff of the university.

On 18/5/10, Woon King Chai received a letter, sent by the university through registered mail requiring him to attend university disciplinary proceedings on the 3rd of June (Thursday), 9.00am at Bilik Mesyuarat Canselori, Aras 6, Bangunan Canselori. He is being charged by the university with Section 15(5)(a) of the University & University College Act 1971, which prohibits students from participating or expressing sympathy or support for any political parties. He has been charged by the university prior of any investigations by the university, without his knowledge. He is not allowed to be represented by a lawyer during proceedings and can only be represented by himself, or another student or a staff of the university.

Democracy in UKM

Students as one of the stakeholders of a university should be given opportunity to exercise academic freedom in the pursue of knowledge and academic research. Thus, as students of Political Science, Muhammad Hilman bin Idham, Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin, Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha and Woon King Chai should be not be demonised and punished by the university for exercising their academic freedom and the right to pursue knowledge and academic research in the field of election analisis.

Aside from that, the university is charging these students with Section 15(5)(a) of the University & University College Act 1971, which prohibits students from participating or expressing sympathy or support for any political parties. However, this is in DIRECT CONTRADICTION with Article 119 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, which guarantees all Malaysian citizens above the age of 21 the right to vote in elections, which is a form of expression and participation in politics. This is a blant disregard and disrespect of the Federal Constitution by the university.

These 4 Political Science students, who are being charged by the university are top students in their own fields of studies. Muhammad Hilman bin Idham, Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin, Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha and Woon King Chai have achieved a high CGPA of 3.51/4.00, 3.49/4.00, 2.97/4.00 and 3.79/4.00 respectively. Thus, with their genuine efforts in improving the university’s standings through academic achievements and research, they should not be demonised and punished by the university for their pursue of knowledge in observing the Hulu Selangor by-election.

Demands

Hence, we would like to call upon Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s authority and Student Affairs Department to immediately drop the charges and call off the disciplinary proceedings against Muhammad Hilman bin Idham, Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin, and Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha and Woon King Chai. We urge the university to grant these students the academic freedom to do research and pursue knowledge in their own field of studies. Above all else, drop the charge of Section 15(5)(a) of University & University College Act 1971 which is in direct contradiction with Article 119 of the Federal Constitution.

What Can You Do?

1. Call UKM authority to ask about the case and protest towards the UUCA charge on Muhammad Hilman bin Idham, Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin, Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha and Woon King Chai.

1. Pejabat Naib Canselor

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Tel : 03-8921 5001 / 03-8925 0399

2. Pejabat Timbalan Naib Canselor (Hal-Ehwal Pelajar dan Alumni)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Tel : 03-8921 5094 / 03-8925 0718

3. Pusat Perkembangan Pelajar

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Tel : 03-8921 3141

2. Fax, e-mail or mail the sample letter below to UKM authority immediately.

Prof. Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin

Naib Canselor UKM

Pejabat Naib Canselor

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor

Tel : 03-8921 5001 / 03-8925 0399

Faks : 03-8921 4242

E-mel : ncukm@ukm.my

Prof. Dato' Dr. Mohamad Abdul Razak

Timbalan Naib Canselor (Hal-Ehwal Pelajar dan Alumni)

Pejabat Timbalan Naib Canselor (Hal-Ehwal Pelajar dan Alumni)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor

Tel : 03-8921 5094 / 03-8925 0718

Faks : 03-8921 4062

E-mel : tnchepa@ukm.my

Prof. Madya Dr. Kadderi Md. Desa

Pengarah Pusat Perkembangan Pelajar

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor

Tel : 03-8921 3141

Faks : 03-8925 8431

Released by,

Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)

Heng Lung (Coordinator)

016-411 4147

lucasheng19@gmail.com

Notes:

- Both, organisation or individual are encourages to sign and sending this letter of appeal as to show the strong of our solidarity as well as how firm our stand on this matter.

- Kindly to extend your hand to this campaign so that it will reach and gain more supports in short time by helping us disseminating or forwarding this email, or by personally urging as many individual or organisations around you to sign and send this letter.

- You may also publish this appeal in your websites, blogs, mailing-lists, online forum sites, and etc.

- It would be great if you or your organisation will be able to release media statement as to show your concern on this matter. If so, we really appreciate it and kindly send us copy of your statement.