Three human rights groups have urged Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Students Affairs Department to stop bullying and victimising its students.

In a press statement today, the three groups - Aliran, Suaram and Hakam - voiced their objection towards the universitys decision to suspend four students for allegedly being involved in anti-government activities.

The statement said three of the four, who are final year final-year students, will be technically delayed from graduating by a year.

Most of the courses which they are currently enrolled in, and which are required for their graduation this semester will not be taught and examined again until the second semester of the next academic year, it added.

The groups appealed to USM vice-chancellor Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak to allow the students to take their examinations on Feb 18.

We urge the university to show its magnanimity and reveal its compassion by responding positively and sympathetically to our call, they said.

Critical thinking

The human rights watchdogs also reminded USM that universities are places where critical thinking, exchange of opinions, new ideas and differences ought to be encouraged and inculcated.

Expression of these views whether in the form of artistic presentations or gatherings should be tolerated as long as they are expressed peacefully, they said.

The statement also added that many USM lecturers, administrative officers and those in USM leadership today once held critical views of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and even participated in anti-government, anti-ISA demonstrations when they were students.

They should be well-placed now to appreciate and understand the development process of the individual in the university. But, apparently, they are not.

Even the mere possession of a badge that displays a dissenting opinion is deemed an offence with dire consequences, said the statement signed by by Aliran president P Ramakrishnan, Hakam president Raja Aziz Addruse and Suaram director Dr Kua Kia Soong.

Anti-ISA badges

Last week, USM suspended Lee Yen Ting, Choo Chon Kai, Loke Chee Hoe and Fatin Norsuhana Abdul Khalid for one semester over their alleged involvement in anti-establishment activities. Lee, Choo and Loke are final-year students.

Choo was suspended after he was caught selling anti-ISA badges to a USM security guard in mufti. Other allegations against him, include possessing nine other similar badges and putting up an anti-ISA poster in the Chinese Language Society (CLS) cubicle.

Meanwhile, Lee who is CLS president was punished for, among others, her participation in an illegal gathering protesting the vision school concept in December 2000.

It is believed that the USM students concerned will seek the help of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).