I am appalled that Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin has been forced to terminate his studies at Institut Kemahiran Mara. It is bad enough that he had to endure detention under the ISA (which cannot be described as anything else other than unwarranted torture).

Now the Malaysian government is denying him the right to an education which is a basic human right. There is no justification for the treatment meted out to Khairul Anuar.

Barisan Nasional politicians frequently recruit university students as part-time workers for their political campaigns especially when elections are near.

The university students are paid for their work which includes putting up posters, ushering guests to their seats and following politicians on their rounds from house to house. Also, Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remark that students should concentrate only on their studies because good taxpayers' money is utilised on them is sheer nonsense.

Students are usually encouraged to participate in non-academic activities so that they will become wholesome individuals. Students who manage to represent their state or country in sports, such as swimming, badminton, etc. are praised and commended. Thus, how does Dr Mahathir come to the conclusion that students should do nothing but study all day long?

The purpose of an education is to create mature and knowledgeable professionals who will steer Malaysia into becoming a modern and intellectual society. We do not want professionals who are unable to achieve their potential just because they are bogged down by the whims and fancies of the political masters. Unfortunately, it seems that we are heading in that direction.