Universiti Malaya (UM) is considering disciplinary action against six of its students for inviting "outsiders" to judge a Chinese language debate competition on politics in the country.

The judges were Seputeh parliamentarian Teresa Kok ( below ), MCA central committee member Wong Nai Chee and political commentator Koh Kok Wee.

teresa kok suh sim The students have been asked to attend an inquiry next Monday to determine if action is to be taken against them for violation of rules and regulations of the university.

"We will determine if they were in violation of the 1979 students' body act at Monday's inquiry," said student conduct committee chairman professor Faisal Ali.

When asked if students had the right to freedom of expression and choice, he said: "They have a right to express themselves. I myself was trained overseas. The culture there is different from what we have here."

However, he said, that there should be a limit to that freedom as "even in religion, there are boundaries".

"There is no such thing as 100 percent freedom even though freedom of expression exists," said Faisal.

'Choose right policy makers'

Questioned whether the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 is draconian, he retorted: "These policies which govern universities are approved by the politicians. If is it is unfair, choose the right policy makers."

Faisal Ali sent out notices to the students on Oct 6 saying that they had infringed the 1979 students' body act for inviting 'outsiders' and may be expelled, suspended or fined if found guilty.

Students council vice-president Yap Zhen Jun told Malaysiakini that the students have been "unfairly" accused of wrongdoing.

"Under the 1979 students' body act, students are not allowed to invite those not from UM's Chinese language society to any of its events. This is unreasonable."

"In the past, we have invited many ministers, politicians and well-known personalities to our various events. So why the big hoo-haa now?" she asked.

She added that the aim of the competition was to promote healthy debate but the student affairs department thinks otherwise.

"They feel that we have a hidden agenda. I do not understand why they are coming down so hard on us," she added.