''My name is Ahmad Kassim (not his real name). I repeat, my name is Ahmad Kassim,'' a smartly attired university student thundered over the microphone before 300-odd students gathered on a volleyball court in the middle of a cluster of campus student dormitories in Penang.

''Remember my name, Ahmad Kassim. I am standing in the constituency of the faculty of humanities. Remember my name, Ahmad Kassim. Vote for me if you want change,'' he added.

Ahmad is a general constituency candidate in the elections for the students representative council at the Science University of Malaysia.

His campaign lines sounded weak, repetitive and said very little, but this is what he could manage given the scope of the campaigning allowed by nervous university authorities.

After all, this is a country where students are prohibited from getting involved in politics out of concern that universities would become a hotbed of political restiveness, especially after the rise of the 'reformasi' groups against the government of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Under the University and University Colleges Act, students are barred from organising gatherings, participating in activities outside campus, joining outside political parties or societies and releasing press statements without permission.

Early elections

This year, campus campaign and election procedures were tightened ahead of nationwide elections in all 17 public universities and university colleges on Sept 4. This time, the campus elections were held earlier than usual.

They assume greater significance as they could provide an indication of public sentiment ahead of snap general elections in Malaysia expected in the months ahead, where the government is

keen to maintain political control.

In some campuses, authorities insisted on making campaign materials like posters, manifestos and banners more uniform, a move that appeared aimed at preventing the identification of

candidates with alliances and coalitions.

The campaign material was printed and paid for by the respective student affairs departments. Campaign hours were tightly regulated. To ensure a decent turnout despite all these restrictions, voting was made compulsory in some campuses.

At the volleyball court at the Science University of Malaysia, campaigning was from 10 p.m. to midnight. The crowd at one 'campaign' was playful, cheering respective candidates and

occasionally getting boisterous.

Under watchful eyes

When one of the candidates for the student council's 'cabinet' - these candidates are allowed a longer duration of five minutes for speeches - spoke fawningly of the university authorities and said they should not be criticised, the crowd chanted 'Tipu! Tipu!' (Lies! Lies!).

Every now and then, an official videotaping the candidates' speeches, trained his camera on the chanting crowd and they grew silent. No one wants to be identified as a 'trouble-maker'.

Asked who watches these videotapes, a student nearby shrugged, "I don't know. I guess they are just documented.'' Others think it is a form of intimidation.

The student pointed to an older man in the crowd who had been watching the proceedings in rapt attention. ''That guy is an official in the student affairs division,'' said the student. ''And those two other men who just walked by are plainclothes police officers.''

It seemed obvious that the university authorities were not taking any chances in campuses where the 'green' candidates - as those to be sympathisers of the political opposition are called - had wrested control of the student council from the 'blue' candidate, or the pro-establishment bets.

University authorities were closely monitoring candidates, trying to prevent them teaming up as a slate or alliance. But, said a lecturer, somehow many students knew which side a candidate was on.

The speeches were repetitive and utterly boring. It is a wonder that the crowd stayed back to listen. But then, they came to support their respective candidates, many of whom appeared in favour of 'perubahan' (change). But they did not - or were not allowed to - explain what they meant by 'perubahan'.

One bold candidate slipped in an extra line. ''Leaders who are 'zalim' (cruel and oppressive) should be rejected while leaders who are just should be supported.''

Nothing 'sensitive'

Immediately, an administration official walked up to her as if to try and cut her off. But she ended her speech before he could reach her.

The same official, who had been the emcee for the proceedings, later walked up to the microphone to announce, ''May I remind you not to raise 'sensitive' issues in your speeches.''

One lecturer in the crowd laughed cynically, ''What sensitive issues? They are not even allowed to say anything apart from their names and 'vote for change!''

In the run-up to the polls, students said an unofficial and anonymously produced newsletter 'Berita Kampus Alternatif' (Alternative Campus News) had been circulating on campus.

The critical newsletter touched a few raw nerves. One pro-establishment candidate challenged the editors of the publication to come out and contest the elections, but no one took the bait.

On the eve of polling, another newsletter, this time favouring pro-establishment candidates emerged, urging them to reject 'opposition' candidates.

Yet another 'special edition' of a newsletter called 'Buletin', produced by the university's student affairs department, attempted to dispel students' grouses against campus bus charges and student

loans.

On the eve of polling, a report in the English-language daily New Straits Times quoted the deputy vice chancellor of student affairs at the Science University of Malaysia, Jamaludin

Mohaiadin, as saying students should support the government in the campus elections.

''The government owns the university and the university is run according to the government's policy. So it would not be right to support the opposition,'' he said.

His comments provoked howls of protests from opposition politicians, who urged the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to probe the restrictions imposed on campus elections.

In any event, given the limits to campaigning in campuses across the country, the election results almost did not matter. - IPS