In the USA, the fourth of July is Independence Day, but for four political science majors studying in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), it is their day of reckoning for allegedly breaching the University and University College Act (UUCA).

NONE Tomorrow at 9am, Muhammad Hilman bin Idham ( left ), Muhammad Ismail bin Aminuddin, Woon King Chai and Azlin Shafina Mohd. Adzha, popularly dubbed the UKM four, will face disciplinary proceedings initiated by the university.

Unfazed, the four are adamant they are innocent, as indicated by spokeperson Hilman via a statement:

"We are ready to face the student's disciplinary proceedings as prescribed by the university. We hope that the proceedings will be fair and transparent.

We will also continue to demand that the academic rights of students be protected," he said.

According the statement, Hilman and company were informed of the matter via a letter from the office of the UKM deputy vice chancellor for student affairs.

The third year students were detained by  the cops on April 22 last year, during the Hulu Selangor by-election, while traveling in a van in which there were political leaflets and campaign VCDs, belonging to election staffers.

Civil authorities and the university administration had cried foul, claiming that they were there to campaign on behalf of a political party which took part in the state by-election.

‘Partisan attitudes prohibited

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Showing partisan attitudes is prohibited by the what critics have labeled as a "restrictive" UUCA.

Section 15 of the act prohibits students from associating with, in any manner, any society, political party, trade union or any other organisation, body or group of persons whatsoever."

However the four are adamant in their claim that they wanted to reinforce their academic learning with with observing politics in real life.

The disciplinary proceedings follows their failure to uphold an earlier injunction filed on June 1 at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, to stop the university from initiating disciplinary proceedings until their legal challenge against the constitutionality of the UUCA was heard.

The court however later threw out their challenge, declaring the UUCA as constitutional and setting aside the injunction preventing the university from taking action on September 28.

The disciplinary proceedings, as well as their landmark challenge against the act marks a watershed in the struggle to free the once vibrant Malaysian student body from legislated fetters that as critics argue, have kept docile and dumbed down the youth of the nation.