Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) student Simon Ooi could have created a record of sorts after being slapped with seven disciplinary charges by the campus authority.

He is among those hauled up, in what has been described as a witch-hunt in campuses nationwide, on those who had protested against the recent campus polls.

Ooi, 21, a second-year computer and communication system engineering student is the fifth student to face disciplinary action in UPM over the campus polls.

The charges, believed to be a new record for UPM, were listed in a letter signed by deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs) Prof Dr Azali Mohamed.

The letter was hand delivered to Ooi when he turned up at the university administration building this morning to show support for another student who was called for a disciplinary hearing.

The charges

Contacted later, Ooi said he was accused of breaching various clauses of the university's disciplinary rules empowered under the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA). These were:

  • Being involved in a gathering (to call for a fair polls) in front of the Parliament building on Sept 21.

  • Instigating students to boycott the campus election.

  • Being involved in a gathering at a coffee shop outside campus during nomination day on Sept 26.

  • Issuing media statements in connection with the campus polls on polling day.

  • Collecting money from students between Sept 26 to 29 for a campaign to boycott the elections.

  • Being involved in a procession from the National Mosque to hand over a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

  • Being present at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court to express support for the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the UUCA on April 22 (during the ISA 7 trial).

    • Unfair charges

    Ooi's first date with the disciplinary panel headed by Azali will be on Nov 10.

    If found guilty, the student could face expulsion, suspension, be prohibited from using certain university facilities or fined a maximum of RM200 (for each charge).

    However, the panel could also decide to let him off with a warning.

    Ooi described the charges as unfair, saying that he had merely exercised his right in relation to freedom of assembly and expression.

    He is also unfazed by the matter and promised to continue being vocal about issues affecting students.

    "If we don't speak out to let the society know what is happening, we may be suppressed further and the situation could become worse," he said.

    Higher Education Minister Dr Shafie Salleh has backed UPM on its decision to initiate the disciplinary proceedings.

    Yesterday, a group of students took their plight to Suhakam, urging it to put an end to the witch-hunt.

    In last month's controversial campus polls, marred by allegations of intimidation and irregularities, all 17 public universities nationwide were won by the pro-establishment student camps amidst boycotts launched at five major universities by the 'anti-establishment' camp.

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