Following the landslide victory of the 'pro-establishment' faction in all 17 public universities in the recent campus elections, Higher Education Minister Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh revealed his true colours.

He was reported as saying that the victory indicates that most students are grateful to the government for subsidising their fees.

The shameless statement has once again proven that Malaysia has failed its youth. It clearly shows that the minister prefers 'pro-government' student representatives.

His statement is no less than an endorsement of the winning faction. How will anyone be convinced that the elections were held in a fair manner when the person in charge of universities states his preference for candidates from a particular group?

Prior to the elections, some students had risked their degree by organising a demonstration in front of Parliament House.

They had merely wanted to meet with Shafie, but he had no courage to see them. Eventually, five representatives were allowed to enter the building, while the others waited under the searing sun.

What happened at the meeting? The representatives only managed to meet the ministry's parliamentary secretary Adham Baba, who gave them five minutes to submit their memorandum. He refused to enter into a dialogue with them.

Six days later, Adham was seen sitting cosily with students from a rival faction at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Adham Baba was then quoted in the press as dismissing all accusations and complaints from the pro-students faction (usually labeled as 'anti-establishment').

"Those allegations are baseless," he said.

In shiny business suits, the pro-establishment students called upon the government to take disciplinary action against students who had taken part in the demonstration outside Parliament House, because they had "tainted the image of intellectuality and credibility of undergraduates".

Once again, Malaysia has failed its youth - in enabling their understanding of what constitutes a playing field without double standards.

Uneven fight

Looking at the history of campus elections, there is evidence that it has always been a lopsided affair and one that has been poorly referee-d.

It has traditionally pitted the heavyweight 'pro-establishment' students (those backed by the authorities) against the lightweight pro-students faction.

Irregularities are alleged almost every year, including midnight raids on students' rooms, crackdowns on activities organised by students who refuse to be stooges, physical assault of students who will not bow to orders, and intimidation in other forms.

Students have sent memorandum after memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and other relevant authorities, detailing such irregularities. Regrettably, they authorities have not examined these issues seriously enough.

Letters have been sent and dialogues held, and yet the issue - just like the annual phenomenon of the haze - comes and goes. In the end, it's business as usual.

To date, none of the perpetrators have been brought to justice. Underdogs are still underdogs and malfeasants continue to act with impunity.

Again, Malaysia has failed its youth in helping them comprehend the principles of justice.

By failing to conduct clean and fair campus elections, Malaysia has fostered generations of youth who do not understand democracy, impartiality and justice.

This failure poses a lethal threat to the nation's future as it has manufactured undergraduates who either become cowards unable to voice their opinion or toadies who apple-polish the powers-that-be.

CHANG LIH KANG is co-ordinator of human rights group Suaram and a former student activist.