A final-year student of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is to face disciplinary proceedings for allegedly being involved in campaigning for an opposition candidate during the general election concluded in March.

The university has asked the student, Soh Sook Hwa, to defend herself next Wednesday before a tribunal comprising university officials.

She recently received a letter signed by student affairs department deputy vice-chancellor Jamaludin Mohaiadin, who will also chair the proceedings. He could not be reached for comment today.

According to the letter, Soh is alleged to have breached section 15 of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) and "tarnished the university's image" through her activities. If found guilty, she could be suspended or fined.

Section 15 of the UUCA bars students from any form of affiliation with political parties of associations.

It also prohibits students from holding any gathering of more than five people, participating in activities outside campus, engaging in part-time work and releasing media statements without the written permission of the vice-chancellor.

Photographs used

Soh, a former student representative, is currently in her final semester of mass communication studies. She is one of three USM students issued with show-cause letters in April for the same offence.

They were said to have campaigned for Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Tian Chua in the Batu parliamentary seat, which he eventually lost.

The university is believed to have based its action on two photographs - published in a vernacular daily during the election campaign - of the students in a market.

The other two, who have since completed their studies, are uncertain of the status of their case after their response to the letters.

Under university regulations, disciplinary proceedings will be held if the explanation provided is not satisfactory.

In a related development, human rights goup Suaram has launched an urgent appeal campaign to highlight Soh's dilemma.

Suaram Penang co-ordinator Choo Chon Kai urged the public to fax or send in appeals to the USM vice-chancellor or deputy chancellor to pressure the university to drop the case.

In 2001, USM suspended several students for illegal assembly over the 'Vision School' issue and six others for participating in a debate competition without prior permission. The university then punished over 30 students for illegal assembly who had gathered to support the six.

More recently, the deputy vice-chancellor told the 37 newly-elected student representatives that their personal details had been submitted to special branch police personnel for 'investigation' of their political leanings.