For 10 months now, the Chinese Language Society of Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) College in Kuala Lumpur has been prohibited from holding activities, with students claiming they have been victimised even as the college administration accused the society of violating procedures.

Society chairperson Teo Shee Juan and other committee members who were elected at the organisation's annual general meeting last August were also not 'recognised' by the college.

The Student Affairs Department ruled the meeting invalid as it failed to meet the quorum, two-thirds of the total members of the society.

But to date, no fresh AGM has been called and the society was not even allowed to recruit new members like other student organisations did during the orientation week last month.

Teo said he believed that the MCA-run college was being "vindictive" as the society had launched a campaign in campus to oppose the political party's takeover of two Chinese newspapers, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press , last May.

"We received a letter last September informing us that our AGM was null and void. It has been 10 months and they have yet to approve our application to hold another AGM," said the final-year student who is doing chemistry and biology.

Instead, the college asked them to account for various other issues such as the CLS souvenir magazine last year which was said to have been produced without approval, added Teo.

Uncooperative attitude

He said the college also demanded the society to settle a RM900 payment for the rental of an auditorium used for a book exhibition earlier.

"We have tried to seek a meeting with the Student Affairs Department but the officials have not been cooperative in fixing an appointment with us," he said.

He said whatever problem there was, it existed between the department and his predecessor, not him.

In view of this uncooperative attitude displayed by the administration, he said the Chinese Language Society will organise a signature campaign among students tomorrow to show there is support for the society to resume its activities.

When contacted, a Student Affairs Department official said the college had valid reasons to nullify the society's meeting last year since the quorum was not met.

The official who declined to be named said the department also discovered that the society has been soliciting money from its members through various activities instead of collecting it through the college bursary.

"We have evidence and the students were requested to furnish us with an explanation. But they have not done so," he said.

Society not suspended

The official said the college also suspected that a group of previous office bearers of the society had mismanaged its fund.

"There is discrepancy between the fees they collected from their members and the actual amount recorded based on the membership list. We know this because we have people inside," said the official, declining to elaborate on this sticky' issue.

However, he denied that the treatment given to the society is tantamount to suspending the society.

When asked, he also denied that the action taken against the society was because of the society's involvement in the anti- Nanyang takeover movement.

"Those are two separate issues. If they were taking part in anything inappropriate, we would have called the students in under the provision of our code of conduct," he said.

The official said the college has yet to decide whether the society will be allowed to organise its AGM which is due by September.