Education as an inalienable human right should be acknowledged again as thousands of students in Malaysia return today - Jan 5 - to school to commence their 2004 school year.

The Malaysian government must be congratulated in ensuring that generally all Malaysians have access to schools and quality education, which is still affordable to the general public.

But then when we remember Rafzan Ramli and six other students from our educational institutions, who are still under suspension since mid-2001 just because they were charged in court with an offence. They have not been proven guilty and convicted, and their trial is long from over.

What has happened to presumption of innocence until proven guilty? It would be a great injustice if and when after three or five years these students have been found not guilty at all with their studies suspended. All their peers have gone on and obtained their degrees or diplomas and are out there moving on with their lives.

It is a grave injustice to suspend one's right to education just because he has been charged with an offence. If one is found guilty after trial, then there is a sentence with regard to that offence be it a fine, imprisonment and/or both. Why should university students also be subjected to further suffering in the form of this suspension from their studies?

The education minister has the power to allow these students to continue their studies and graduate but disappointingly, he did not do this. He still can lift the suspension and allow all seven students to complete their studies, and he should do that now for it will demonstrate our government's commitment to the welfare of students and the promotion of the right of education in Malaysia.

Rafzan Ramli and his colleagues are not being charged with an offence like murder, assault, battery, rape, robbery, theft or anything like that but with an offence of participating in an illegal assembly. The future of these students (also known as the ISA-7) have already been affected by the suspension, but further prejudice could be avoided if they can now in 2004 get back to their campuses and get their degrees or diplomas.