We in the Asian Students Association, comprising 54 national student movements from 31 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, express our concern with the case of Soh Sook Hwa, 22, a final-year student of the University of Science Malaysia (USM) who has been charged by her university authority for her alleged participation in an general election campaign in March this year.

As a regional youth and student organisation, we have always kept an eye on university autonomy and academic freedom in universities. As such, human rights and democracy in Malaysia is one of the main focuses of our organisation.

As we all know, the Malaysian government destroyed civil society and forfeited civic liberties under former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. However, the new prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has not given any positive response towards remedying this situation.

We are very much concerned with Soh's case because of her alleged involvement in the general election campaign. For a country which became independent from British colonial rule since 1957, with the first national election taking place in 1959, the long years of independence should already show how Malaysia can establish and develop democracy.

However, after 47 years of practicing democracy, a higher education institution in Malaysia is going to charge a student just because she got involved in an election campaign. This is a backward and outdated move.

The people of the world are enthralled by the attractive and fascinating advertisement of 'Malaysia, Truly Asia' on its tourism posters. The Malaysian government has apparently put a lot of effort to build up the country's image to attract tourists and business investments.

However, we strongly feel that the charge against Soh is something contradictory to the message of the advertisement. How can a 'Truly Asia' country allow Soh's higher education to go to ruins through the direct repression of her rights?

How can a 'Truly Asia' country allow the continuous existence of repressive laws such as the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA)? Are these the Asian values Malaysia aims to popularise and propagate?

As a higher education institution, USM should take the first step and ignore all the repressive sections under the UUCA. These outdated and backward sections do not only block academic freedom but also stunt creative thinking and hamper the well-rounded development of Malaysian youth.

We believe this case also raises fundamental questions regarding Soh's practice of her civil and political rights as a person and as a Malaysian citizen. These practises are compatible with international human rights laws and standards and the Malaysian government, as a member of the community of nations, should recognise and respect them.

We strongly urge USM to immediately stop the prosecution of Soh. If the university is committed to social and national reforms, then it should drop the charges against Soh.

We remain in solidarity with the students, youth and people of Malaysia in their call upon the government to uphold human rights and democracy as part of their struggle for justice and peace in Malaysia.

The development of a country lies not in outside forces but in the strength and faith of its own people, especially its youth who are the leaders of tomorrow and the agents of change.

The writers are regional secretariat members (2002-2005) of the Hong Kong-based Asian Students Association.