VIDEO| 3.40 min

Southern College president Thock Kiah Wah has publicly apologised over a raucous BN function which took place on campus grounds last night.

Eye-witnesses claim that BN supporters had swarmed the campus and behaved in an unruly manner, revving their motorcycle engines and storming the stage.

NONE Two female student volunteers at the event told Malaysiakini that they were molested by BN supporters during the event.

Following this, 200 students staged a protest on campus today and confronted Thock to demand an apology for allowing the function to take place.

When repeatedly questioned by the disgrunted students, Thock said that the students were not aware of the complexities involving society and politics.

He initially refused demands for him to "apologise to society" but later relented.

"Yesterday, I already apologised to (the two students in private). Today I'm apologising to everyone. Today, I am apologising again.

"Over this incident, I'm deeply remorseful. I apologise to everyone and to society. Is this okay?" he said.

'What if your daugther was molested?'

Earlier, Thock said that the horde of BN supporters, whom he stressed should be called "members of the public", could not be controlled by the campus authorities.

NONE Following this, several students objected to Thock, accusing him of trying to wash his hands of any wrongdoing.

One female student lashed out at Thock, stating that he was feigning ignorance.

"President, your are a professor. It takes more than a certificate to be a professor. You have to have the aptitude and the attitude.

"On campus, you are like our parents. How can you let this happen? Would a parent have allowed this to happen?

"If your daughter was the one who was molested, how would you react? I hope you apologise to us in front of the press. Your apology in private is useless," she said. 

Hostels were breached

Meanwhile, Thock confirmed reports on social networking websites that some of the BN supporters had entered the hostel compound on campus.

"When I came to know of this, I immediately inspected the hostels. These outsiders had parked their vehicles inside the campus and entered the hostel compound.

"I don't know the full story, but according to preliminary investigations, some of these outsiders could have entered the toilet. But they left," he told reporters later.

He was responding to claims that some of the BN supporters had entered the hostel female toilets.

He said that apart from the molest claims, there were no other untoward incidents.

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