Government agency Biro Tatanegara (BTN) has been urged to provide proof to back its allegation that American and Jewish elements were sponsoring certain student groups in local varsities.

"ASA (Asian Students Association) welcomes BTN to show us the proof and meet with us face to face," said its regional secretary Lee Khai Loon who is based in Kuala Lumpur.

According to him, ASA is a Hong Kong-based non-governmental organisation which has 49 members from 31 countries across Asia Pacific.

"Where did BTN get its information from? How do they know the financial sources of a NGO based in Hong Kong?" he asked when contacted.

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that first-year students of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) were told at a seminar organised by BTN that foreign elements which want to see chaos in Malaysia were funding certain student groups.

The speakers drew a link between these local student groups, ASA and the National Endowment for Democracy, a non-profit organisation which they said was sponsored by American and Jewish elements.

Jeopardising unity

Meanwhile, Lee said the BTN has become the 'government's tool' to defame NGOs perceived as being anti-establishment.

"Malaysia will celebrate its 50th Merdeka next year, but we still have a government agency that tries to jeopardise unity among students.

"In this era, there is still a government agency attempting to spread hatred towards certain ethnic communities, this is most terrifying," he added.

During the seminar, the speakers had singled out several Chinese-based student groups such as the Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (Dema), USM's Chinese language society (USMPBT) and USM student progressive front (USMSPF).

When contacted, Dema international affairs secretary Kong Wee Cheng asked why students attending the seminar were warned not to record or snap photographs of the proceedings if BTN has nothing to hide.

He said the allegations were unfounded and aimed to create tensions between students of different races by disseminating the dichotomy of 'Jews/Chinese students VS Muslim students'.

Kong believes that the seminar, which he described as a 'brainwashing programme', was aimed at tarnishing the image of certain student groups ahead of next Thursday's campus polls.

Last resolve

USMPBT chairperson Loo Chuan Boon said this is not the first time USM authorities have tried to 'defame' his society.

There were also unfounded allegations made against the society during the university's orientation week in July, he added.

According to him, the USMPBT leadership questioned USM deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs division) Dr Jamaludin Mohaiadin over the allegations during a meeting early this year.

"He avoided our question by saying let bygones be bygones," Loo said when contacted.

He clarified that USMPBT received its funding through Chinese guilds and associations and fund-raising programmes.

Asked on another point raised during the seminar that certain student groups hold demonstrations to undermine national security, Loo said demonstrations were the last resolve when other forms of protest are not heeded by the authorities.

"This is the right provided by the constitution, we are not creating chaos, we are merely acting against an unfair policy," he added.