The UK Malaysian Student Department (MSD) director Dr Kamarudin Mohd Nor refuted claims that he intimidates students who support the opposition or attend their events.

He said it was the opposition parties that were guilty of intimidating students as the department has received such complaints in the past.

The allegations of intimidation came about following the aborted Wacana Kemerdekaan (Merdeka dialogue) last month, organised by Al-Hizbul Islami United Kingdom and Eire (Hizbi). Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat founded Hizbi in 1991.

The main speaker, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia history professor Nik Anuar Nik Mahmud, who was visiting the UK then, was 'advised' against giving his talk for "security reasons".

The cancellation of the event infuriated students who have travelled from as far as Scotland to hear him. Groups sympathetic to the opposition claimed Kamarudin's actions were meant to intimidate students.

Kamarudin, to support claims that opposition groups were guilty of intimidating students, cited as example how the department initially had no knowledge of a car accident last year in which three government-sponsored students were seriously injured in Swindon after attending a Hizbi programme in London.

"We came to know [of the accident] too late. The students were warned by the organiser not to inform us. Students were pressured into attending and financing such programmes," he said in a statement e-mailed to malaysiakini .

He also cited another incident in late 2000 where a number of female medical students who attended a gathering in Dublin organised by PAS and the Islamic Students Association of Ireland, ended up crying and vowing not to continue with their studies until the MSD intervened.

In response to a former student leader's claim that Kamarudin was biased against certain groups of students, the MSD director said he was drawing up a proposal that would allow only multiracial student organisations to register with the department.

Societies based on study fields

The proposal would see societies based on generic fields of study registering with the MSD, while "sectorial or partisan" clubs like Kelab Umno and Kelab MIC that are currently on the books would have to deregister and declare themselves as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with the British authorities, he said.

He said he would invite student leaders from all over the UK and Eire, including members of Hizbi, Keadilan in the UK, Kelab Umno, Kelab MIC and MCA, to a special seminar at the end of the month to discuss the proposal, after which the Malaysian high commissioner and the Education Ministry would decide on the matter.

The MSD has 38 organisations registered with it. Five have a predominantly Malay membership.

Societies registered with MSD enjoy its recognition and protection in their dealings with the authorities in the UK or Eire, as well as grants to subsidise their activities. The MSD also lends support and participation in activities organised by registered clubs.

Unchanged sentiments

When asked if he stood by his position that he would punish students who opposed the policies of the Barisan Nasional government, he said that his sentiments remained unchanged.

"Yes, I will come down hard on students who are [actively and aggressively] against the policies of the government. [But] I will tolerate constructive criticisms," he said.

He gave the example of MSD-organised sessions on human rights and the New Economic Policy that gave students a chance to voice their opinions and grievances, adding that more of such sessions were being planned.

When asked why he had turned down Hizbi's invitation to open Wacana Kemerdekaan, he said that Hizbi was "non-existent" to him because it was not registered with the MSD. Hizbi had also ignored his invitation for a "heart-to-heart talk" about one and a half years ago, he said.

"They do not bother to communicate with us until their last-minute invitation to the wacana , putting me in a difficult position. Personally, why should I respond if they did not respect me in the first place?" he replied.

He also claimed that Hizbi was comprised mainly of non-students and non-Malaysians, although Hizbi's official website says it is "an Islamic movement comprising a majority of Malaysian students in UK and Eire".

No warning

The event organisers have also criticised Kamarudin for failing to inform them of the potential 'danger' that he had warned Nik Anuar of in advising him to stay away from the event.

In an earlier interview, Kamarudin said he had cautioned the history professor because he feared the event which was organised by a Muslim society could aggravate the "jittery feelings" of certain groups in the UK. The event was also just four days from the anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks.

In the latest reply, Kamarudin said he "assumed the Wacana Kemerdekaan would not give rise to security problems and thus did not warn the organiser" because Hizbi did not face problems from the UK authorities when they arranged for three PAS leaders to talk at a Leeds mosque in January.

"I advised Prof Nik because he is a visitor [to the UK] and a government servant. We will not be in a position to defend him should he be apprehended," he said, adding that students were a different matter as they might have their freedom and rights.

He stressed that Nik Anuar could have ignored the advice and delivered his speech anyway, but had chosen not to speak and given "all sorts of reasons" to the audience instead.

Kamarudin also emphasised the fact that Malaysians residing in the UK should be aware of the laws and sensitivities in the country, adding that "being intellectuals, [students] must have understood the danger of organising events that may well breach security needs here".

He said the MSD was becoming a "crisis management centre" as staff members have to be on call "almost 24 hours a day" because of limited resources and manpower. He added that although some students may be dissatisfied with their service, he would strive to serve them.

The MSD is responsible for the guidance and welfare of Malaysian students in the UK and Eire. It reports to the High Commissioner in London and the Education Ministry.