Two students from Universiti Malaya have been suspended for one semester each after a hearing held by the campus authority today.

They are a student representative from the anti-establishment pro-Mahasiswa group, Tan Tiong Yih, and a defeated candidate, Yeong Lee Kee, who contested in the UM student body election held last month.

Tan said he and Yeong were each suspended for one semester by the campus authority after a four-hour hearing that decided they had faked medical certificates to avoid attending a compulsory course on the federal constitution that was held before the campus election.

"We were warned, given RM200 fines and suspended for one semester," the second year engineering student told Malaysiakini when contacted.

The pro-Mahasiswa group successfully took over the UM student representative council, taking 23 of the 41 seats.

Tan obtained a medical certificate on Feb 15 due to a skin condition. He insist that his condition was legitimate.

Yeong complained that she was give just five minutes to defend herself before the hearing decided on her punishment..

Tan said that he and Yeong will be appealing the sentence tomorrow. They have 14 days to make an appeal.

Meanwhile, council treasurer Kelvin Tee Tin Loong said the council was considering grounds to question the authority on the severity of the punishment, and to appeal on behalf of Tan and Yeong.