Universiti Malaya authorities tried to throw a press conference organised by the pro- mahasiswa (pro-M) group in the campus into disarray for some 15 minutes today, using high-handed tactics, including shutting a student's mouth and switching on a blaring siren.

NONE Security guards at the university also told the students gathered to disperse and warned them of possible repercussions during the 11am incident.

One of the pro-M activists, M Sabri Jamaluddin, said a security guard even went out of his way by forcibly shutting his mouth while he was making a speech.

"Some of the guards also took down the particulars of the pro-M students present. We gave them full cooperation and gave our names," he said, adding that the press conference continued despite all the disturbance by the UM authorities.

NONE The university's security staff let off the siren from a patrol car to disrupt the gathering but despite this, the press conference continued at another venue a short distance away.

Students win some concessions

Last night, after nearly two hours of discussions with the UM authorities, the pro-M student group won some concessions on the campus student body elections.

UM vice-chancellor Professor Ghauth Jasmon chaired the meeting with six pro-M representatives to work out election issues of concern to the student body. Also at the meeting was deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs) Professor Rohana Yusof.

NONE Muslim Students Association of the Universiti Malaya (PMIUM) president Ahmad Syazwan Muhamad Hasan ( right ) told the press conference the university management agreed to several demands they put forward on to the coming campus election.

"Of the four demands, two were accepted... the status of other two is unknown to us. We have yet to receive a response from the administration," he told a media conference at UM today. PMIUM is a member of the pro-M front.

Ahmad Syazwan, ( right ) said UM agreed to cancel the three-day workshop to prepare aspiring candidates and dropped K Puniamurthy as  chairperson of the Executive Committee of Student Representative Council (MPM), a post he has held for three years.

Puniamurthy's position has been taken over by UM Information Technology director David Asirvatham.

Feb 17, a Thursday, has been fixed as  nomination day, with the polls scheduled for Monday, Feb 21.

Unclear instruction on E-nomination

Ahmad Syazwan said the workshop, a big bone of contention which was only for the students wishing to contest, has been renamed as "constitution information course" and it is open to all, including the university staff.

He added that it is compulsory for all at the university to attend the course at 9am tomorrow at the Dewan Tunku Canselor (DTC).

This year the UM management will also introduce an electronic nomination system, called "e-penamaan" - another controversial move after the electronic voting system was introduced in other universities as well last year.

UM carried out a test run of the system on Tuesday until 3pm yesterday, during which students were asked to log onto the "e-nomination" website to nominate their candidates.

However, most pro-M front students boycotted it.

Ahmad Syazwan said that there is still no clear decision on cancelling the electronic system for the electoral process, including protests and appeals, as well as their demand for a six-day campaign period instead of the current four days.

They also want polling to postponed to Feb 23.

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