The four Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) student leaders facing disciplinary action for allegedly participating in the recent Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election have been suspended from the university’s Political Science Club (KSP).

They received their letters from the university’s student services chief Musa Zainal Abidin Othman on Monday, stating that the suspension was to take effect from June 2.               

In response, the KSP committee members have decided to hold a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday to discuss the society’s stand on the decision.

 

The four political science students - Muhammad Hilman Idham, Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha, Woon King Chai and Muhammad Ismail Aminuddin - on May 13 received summonses to face disciplinary hearing for contravening Section 15(5) of the University and University Colleges Act.

NONE The section reads: “No organisation, body or group of students of the university which is established by, under or in accordance with the Constitution, or any other organisation, body or group of students of the university, shall express or do anything which may be construed as expressing support, sympathy or opposition to - (a) any political party whether or not it is in Malaysia.”

Muhammad Hilman, the KSP president, and Azlin Shafina, the club secretary-general, were arrested at Pekan Rasa on April 22 for allegedly for possessing CDs and literature which “expressed support or sympathies” for a certain political party contesting in the by-election.

Muhammad Ismail, the KSP deputy president, and his exco member Woon were arrested in Ampang Pecah the same day, in a van that contained political leaflets.

The students claim that their presence at the campaign was part of a field trip to experience first hand the subject of their study.