The annual bitter battle between rival student groups took a volatile twist today when supporters from two camps faced off in a loud shouting match at a Universiti Malaya (UM) hostel.

The incident sparked from a protest by some 100 students aligned to the "anti-establishment" faction who gathered at the entrance of UM's 9th residential college (K9).

The students were protesting election authorities who allegedly allowed 'ineligible' candidates being fielded by the "pro-establishment" or Aspirasi faction.

Many of these 'ineligible' candidates allegedly reside in K9 and the anti-establishment students claimed that hostel administrator Wirakanain Sani had a hand in their candidature.

Following this, the anti-establishment students torched a campaign banner of a Aspirasi candidate and also sprayed paint the ground with phrases denouncing Wirakanain as " Wira bacul, dalang Umno (Wirakanain is bad, Umno stooge)".

Long live DVC

In turn, Wirakanain rallied 50 of his supporters resulting in a tense shouting and slogan chanting match which lasted one hour.

Wirakanain's supporters chanted "Long live Wira", "Long live (Deputy Vice-Chancellor) Azarae (Idris)" and "Long live Aspirasi ".

Both sides, however, dispersed peacefully at about 4pm.

Yesterday, anti-establishment supporters held a campus march to mark their dissatisfaction over the candidature of 16 final year students aligned to the Aspirasi camp.

It is argued that should the 16 be elected, they would graduate before the expiry of their one-year term on the student supreme council.

Azarae declined to comment on the matter when approached by Malaysiakini yesterday.

Both anti-establishment and Aspirasi factions have consistently accused their rivals of advocating external agendas on campuses.

Photo credit: Wong Teck Chi