A students' group has submitted a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), raising the plight of four of its members who are facing disciplinary action for alleged involvement in politics.

In the memorandum, Solidarity Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) urged the university authorities and Student Affairs Department to drop the charges and call off the disciplinary proceedings.

NONE The memorandum was handed to Suhakam secretary Hashimah Nik Jaafar by SMM head Shazni Munir.

Second-year political science students Muhammad Hilman Idham, Muhammad Ismail Aminuddin, Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha and Woon King Chai have been notified that they have contravened Section 15(5) of the Universities and University Colleges Act.

If found guilty, they can be either expelled or suspended from their studies. The Act bans student involvement in politics, among others.

The four were at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning together with about 15 fellow-students.

Muhammad Hilman, who is the president of the Political Science Association, likened their presence at the Hulu Selangor by-election campaign to that of medical students at a hospital.

“We urge the university to grant the students the academic freedom to do research and pursue knowledge in their own field of studies,” he said.

NONE Muhammad Hilman (right) will face the disciplinary panel on June 2, while Muhammad Ismail, Woon and Azlin will do so the next day.

Muhammad Hilman further claimed that the university has denied the students access to lawyers and refused to provide information on the panel’s procedures.

“This is not fair, as the university will be represented by its legal adviser and I will be left with no defence except for support from the students,” he said.

SMM plans to counter this by mobilising students to express their support during the hearings.

Muhammad Hilman had previously stated that he was "only hitching a ride with an activist” to Hulu Selangor and was “not there to campaign”.

Suhakam to investigate

Hashimah said Suhakam will investigate the complaint and contact the university officials.

suhakam “However, we will have to wait for the appointment of new commissioners to decide on the matter,” she said.

She could not say when the appointments would be made, saying there has been no information from the prime minister.

The term of all the previous commissioners had expired on April 23.