Malaysian student groups are being sponsored by Jewish elements hoping to undermine the nation's security. Sounds a little far-fetched?

This is exactly what first-year students of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) were told at a compulsory one-day seminar themed 'Seminar Bina Negara Mahasiswa' (Building a nation of graduates).

The seminar, attended by over 2,000 students, was held in USM's Tuanku Syed Putra Hall on Aug 26.

According to one student, the speakers had tried hard to 'demonise' the anti-establishment student groups by linking them to anti-Islamic elements.

"Speakers first touched on the non-profit National Endowment for Democracy (NED) organisation, which they said is sponsored by the United States and Jewish elements. This organisation, in return, sponsors the Asian Students Association (ASA).

"Next they claimed that the Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (Dema) is a member of ASA, while USM's Chinese language society (USMPBT) and USM student progressive front (USMSPF) were branches of Dema," he said.

Racial slant

He said the message being conveyed was that student groups dominated by the Chinese were linked to foreign elements who want to see demonstrations and chaos in this country.

The speakers also showed photos of Chinese Malaysian students participating in demonstrations with their leaders faces circled in red.

Among the faces singled out were former USMPBT president Soh Sook Hwa, Dema organising secretary Lee Huat Seng and several current leaders of USMPBT and USMSPF.

"Some speakers used words that humiliated these student leaders," said the student, who declined to be named.

(Under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA), students are not allowed to speak to the media without the written consent from the university's vice-chancellor.)

Another two Chinese Malaysian students who attended the seminar said they felt uncomfortable when the seminar took a racial slant.

The speakers created the impression that Chinese Malaysian students were to be blamed, they alleged.

According to the students, the speakers also revealed the 'official version' regarding a recent scuffle in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Last month, UPM landed in the spotlight after a video recording surfaced showing some 50 students from the 'pro-establishment' camp - which is backed by the campus authorities - pushing and shoving several students from their rival camp, UPM's Student Progressive Front (UPMSPF). (Click on Video 1 and Video 2 to view the incident).

However, speakers at the seminar pinned the blame on the students from the 'anti-establishment' faction.

"They said the perpetrators were not shouting but merely singing college songs. They didn't play the video clip, they only showed the footage which is against the UPMSPF and claimed that the UPMSPF members pushed the perpetrators," said a student.

Those attending the seminar were also warned not to record or take pictures of the proceedings.

'Brainwashing process'

The seminar was conducted by the Biro Tatanegara (BTN). The bureau and the names of its officials were mentioned in a booklet distributed to students who attended.

A check on the BTN website confirmed that the seminar was conducted by the government agency to "enable participants to experience, cherish and sharpen the culture and value of dynamic leadership".

Other speakers at the seminar included USM deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs division) Dr Jamaludin Mohaiadin and a BTN official.

Former students who were expelled for their activities were also there to share their experience and advise the new students against making the same mistake.

In June, the BTN and Higher Education Ministry published a 'propaganda' booklet which was distributed to all new students.

Among others, the booklet labelled anti-establishment student groups as being 'pro-opposition'.

Certain quarters view these seminars and booklets as part of a 'brainwashing process' aimed at securing votes for the 'pro-establishment' faction during the campus polls , which is scheduled for next Thursday.

Malaysian campuses are governed by partisan politics between the pro-establishment faction, which is believed to be sponsored by university authorities with the government's backing, and the anti-establishment faction which is seen as leaning towards the opposition.