I refer to the Malaysiakini report Student: VC's 'porn' charges baseless.

It has happened far to many times for us to dismiss it again to say that this is an isolated case without much evidence. I must say that the students who are involved in standing up to the university should be applauded for their bravery.

When we boast that we are to become an educational hub for the South of Asia, we prod and challenge our young to be bold and brave and to take up issues that concern them and society as a whole. But when our students show their mettle - like what the UPM students have done - we can't seem to take it. Yee Yang Yang and friends should be commended.

The university authorities had suddenly confiscated his laptop and all his electronic study equipment. All this just at a time when campus elections are nearing goes to show that our young are being thought how to intimidate. After all, the ruling elites have done from the time they were in university.

What are universities for in the first place when the students are not treated as adults who are capable to thinking for themselves? Do we feel ashamed when our young do not even know what the federal constitution is or for that matter whether such a document exists! Is it wrong to have a different view? Can't we as a civilised society learn to agree to disagree? Why are we patting ourselves on the back for having declared some of our universities as research universities when we can't learn and appreciate that we have students who differ in views?

What that has happened to Yee Yang Yang is a case of - as the ruling elites would like to put it - 'catching one monkey to keep the other monkeys at bay'. It is just plain intimidation of the highest order and to have it supported by the university's vice-chancellor is even more insulting. Therefore, the term 'Mat Rempit University' befits Universiti Putra Malaysia very well.

The common accusation of Yee having obscene material on his laptop is a very old trick in the book. These kind of threats and intimidation are commonly used by the police to get the victim to admit to whatever they want them to confess to. What are we teaching our university students? To be compliant and docile and everything will be alright? Never question the authorities no matter how unfairly you may be treated? This is how far we have come after 50 years of independence.

If we do not want this beloved country of ours to sink further into a state of a 'free-for-all', we have to take the government to task this coming elections. Let's not hope that all will be alright and we can continue on with our daily lives. Unless the government is made to respect the people, we Malaysians deserve the government that we get.