The seven university students suspended for allegedly participating in an anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) demonstration would be reinstated if they apologised, said Education Minister Musa Mohamad today.

Otherwise, the minister stressed he would not order the universities to lift the suspension .

"Their appeal was made a long time ago. If they ask for my help and sympathy, and tell me that they want to continue their studies, I will reconsider with the condition, (that they must) apologise.

"If not, let the court hear the case...the ministry won't reinstate them before the court makes a judgment because they have breached the UUCA (Universities and University Colleges Act)," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

Musa said if the court found the students - dubbed as the ISA 7 - innocent then they would be allowed to resume their studies immediately.

The seven are Rafzan Ramli, Helma Sanudin, Khairul Amal Mahmood, Ahmad Kamal Abdul Hamid, Wan Sanusi Wan Mohd Noor, Nik Noorhafizi Nik Ismail and Zulkifli Idris.

They are from Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara.

The students were arrested for allegedly participating in a demonstration outside the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur in June 2001 and were subsequently charged with illegal assembly. Their trial will resume next Monday.

Right to education

In an immediate response, the Students Abolish ISA Movement (GMMI) criticised the Education Ministry for continuing to deny the right to education.

"This is not a matter of apology, but shows how the ministry is denying the right of education for the seven students," its spokesperson Syahrir Mahmood said when contacted.

The suspension was criticised by various quarters, including the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), since the students have yet to be found guilty.

Keadilan vice-president and former ISA detainee Tian Chua had argued that since a landmark ruling last September declared the initial detention of six reformasi activists under the Act was unlawful therefore the students had merely expressed something legitimate.

In a related development, the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) issued an urgent appeal to reinstate the students.

"The arrest of the students and the suspension of their studies directly violates their right of assembly and right to an education that are ensured by the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"We urge the university authorities to reinstate these seven students so that their education can continue. We also urge the attorney-general to withdraw the charges against the seven," it said.

Students' civil rights

The commission called on Suhakam to establish a committee to investigate the matter and improve students' civil rights in the country.

AHRC also urged the government to reform the UUCA to bring it in line with the international conventions on human rights.

The appeal was sent to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Attorney-General's Chambers, Suhakam and Musa.

The commission is also lobbying more groups to endorse the appeal.

Calls for their reinstatement also came from various student bodies such as the Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement and Universiti Putra Malaysia Student Progressive Front.

Last Friday, Universiti Malaya Student Council submitted a memorandum on the matter to the education minister.