DAP member of parliament Fong Po Kuan called on Universiti Sains Malaysia to apologise to four of its students, initially barred from sitting for their examinations after they were suspended for participating in anti-establishment activities.

In a press statement yesterday, Fong said the students were wrongly punished and claimed USMs decision to allow them to sit for the examinations on humanitarian grounds was a face-saving gesture to cover up the universitys mistake.

Last Thursday, USM deputy vice-chancellor of student affairs Assoc Prof Jamaludin Mohaidin was reported as saying the decision — to allow the students to sit for the exams which started this Monday — were made on humanitarian grounds.

However, this is not good enough to undo the physical and mental harassment suffered by the students during the said period. As such, USM authorities should apologise to the four students, stressed Fong.

The opposition MP added that the university was executing the punishment before the students could exhaust all avenues for appeal.

The students, who were suspended last month, have appealed to the Education Ministry and are awaiting a reply.

Allow appeal

Fong, who is undergoing a six-month suspension from parliament without pay since last December for criticising House Speaker Mohamad Zahir Ismail, urged the Education Ministry to immediately allow the appeal of the students.

The initial wrong decision of the USM authority was already a punishment on the students, she said.

Fong also said the students should be sitting for their examinations without further harassment.

These students were punished just because they exercised their rights and spoke up for what they believe were for the betterment of the society and country, added Fong.

The students, Lee Yen Ting, Choo Chon Kai, Loke Chee Hoe and Fatin Norsuhana Abdul Khalid, were suspended for one semester for allegedly violating university regulations.

Lee, Loke and Fatin were involved in anillegal gathering protesting the Vision School concept in November 2000 while Choo was caught by the campus guards selling anti-Internal Security Act badges.