Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), which is embroiled in a series of controversies lately, failed to shed light on recent campus scuffles involving rival camps of its students. Instead, its press conference on the issue today at its campus in Serdang turned into a black comedy of sorts.

Speaking at the hastily-arranged press conference, UPM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Nik Mustapha R Abdullah ( right ) benignly said the scuffles were racially-motivated rather than blatant intimidation by students from the 'pro-establishment' camp.

"UPM has called these student leaders and advised them to exercise more caution in racial ties. We also asked them to think rationally to ensure the campus remains in harmony," he said, adding a series of programmes to 'enhance unity' among students has been planned.

Dozens of the 'pro-establishment' students - backed by campus authorities - had manhandled fellow students perceived to be from the rival 'independent' camp during two separate frays on July 11 and Monday.

On both occasions, the 'independent camp' students from the UPM Student Progressive Front (SPF) were setting up a 'help counter' at the campus canteen to assist newly-enrolled students when they were stopped by pro-establishment students who pushed and scolded them.

Present at today's press conference were about 100 students together with UPM deputy vice-chancellors Assoc Prof Dr Azali Mohamed (student affairs and alumni) and Prof Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi (academic and international affairs).

A check, however, revealed that the students were all from the 'pro-establishment' faction.

Comments reserved

After Nik Mustapha finished reading from his prepared statement, Azali immediately requested for a photo session. "Can we call a few Chinese students to come (for the photo) as background?" said Azali aloud.

To this, Malay and Chinese students came forward and shook hands, the two groups led respectively by the UPM's student representative council president Abdul Manaf Ariffin and its treasurer Alex Yong. As the students - all from the same faction - shook hands, the emcee proudly noted the 'evidence and reality of racial integration' in UPM.

UPM's student representative council is dominated by the 'pro-establishment' camp.

Several students who were present told malaysiakini that they were just first-year students and were told by their seniors to turn up for the press conference.

When asked whether the individuals in the mob who heckled the SPF students had been identified, Nik Mustapha answered: "We have taken certain steps in this matter [...] the faces in the video recording were not clear. We have to call more eyewitnesses to know what transpired."

When it was pointed out that the video recording of the incident had showed students representative council head Abdul Manaf present during one scuffle, the vice-chancellor reiterated that he had to launch a probe first.

Asked whether he was tolerating a gangster culture on campus, he replied: "No, I reserve my comments."

He argued the matter did not warrant any action and the university wanted to investigate it thoroughly with a report to be prepared. He was uncertain when the report would be finished.

Approached by reporters after the press conference, Nik Mustapha made an about-turn and said he had not blamed the scuffles on racial issues.

"It's not an ethnic problem. Maybe it was a misunderstanding, it has nothing to do with race, religion or politics, it was purely student activities," said the vice-chancellor despite being reminded this was contrary to the statement he had just read out.

'It's funny'

On why SPF-aligned students were not invited for the press conference and photo session, Nik Mustapha replied: "We have called them (the SPF students) but these are the only people present".

Azali, when met later, said the university will let the police investigate the incidents since police reports have been made by SPF students.

However, a police official was quoted in The Sun today as saying the police will let the university handle the matter internally.

SPF coordinator Simon Ooi ( left ), when contacted this afternoon, told malaysiakini that they were in the dark over the press conference despite the university's claim to having extended an invitation.

"It is funny how the students who attacked us shook hands among themselves besides the attempt to blame the scuffles as a racial issue. The core of the matter is that the university is suppressing students from carrying out activities on campus," said the 22-year-old third-year student.

Earlier this week, UPM was instructed by the cabinet to withdraw its controversial ethnic relations reference textbook following an outrage from the public over distorted facts and bias.

See 6-minute video of the fracas