Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) students have alleged that university authorities were interfering in the campus elections which commenced today.

When contacted, one student claimed that authorities from several residential colleges were trying to sway voting in favour of candidates from UKM's Kelab Aspirasi - the 'pro establishment' faction.

"In some colleges, the (non-Aspirasi) candidates and their agents were barred from entering the polling areas. They are not allowing the agents to monitor the polls or participate in vote-counting later," he said.

He also alleged that heads of colleges told students this morning to cast their ballots for the Aspirasi candidates.

"The non-Aspirasi candidates chances are very poor because of all this. This group has won for the past seven years," added the student who declined to be named.

Vote-tracing

He also claimed that campus authorities took down students' names with the corresponding serial numbers of their voting slips in order to carry out vote-tracing later.

"This is the first time that they are taking down names of the voters with the serial numbers. The college heads have threatened to expel students from residential colleges unless they voted for the Aspirasi candidates," he said.

He alleged that to add force to the threat, campus authorities set today for students to re-apply for places in residential colleges for the 2003/2004 academic year.

The application form - a copy of which was acquired by malaysiakini - required students to declare if they were members of the Aspirasi Club.

They were are also required to state if they had ever been involved in any 'anti-university or anti-government' activities.

In a related development, UKM student Haris Alimudin lodged a police report over the college authorities action in taking down the names of students.

"This may allow students' affairs department officials to trace students who vote for particular candidates. This is in violation of clause 23(1) of the student council election guidelines," he said.

Haris, the outgoing president of the student council, lodged the report at the Bandar Baru Bangi police station this afternoon.

Students monitored

Another UKM student claimed in the weeks leading-up to the polls, campus heads appointed Aspirasi Club candidates to monitor fellow students for possession of 'unauthorised' leaflets or petitions.

"Last year, there were lots of flyers being distributed by non-Aspirasi candidates but this year, there were none at all. There were constant spot-checks of students' rooms," she said.

The student also claimed that two of the three entrances to her residential college were sealed off since Aug 30 for college authorities to monitor student movement.

"The college head had decided for two of the three entrances to the college to be closed to stop (non-residents) from coming in and distributing leaflets.

Leafleting restrictions were also introduced in several universities. In at least two universities - UKM and the International Islamic University (IIU) - campaign materials were permitted only if they were produced by the universities' respective student affairs departments.

Allegations denied

Meanwhile, an UKM official denied the allegations and said regulations implemented by campus authorities were based on practices set by the election commission.

"All voting will be secret. We take down the names so we can use the information should any incident take place," said head of the Rahim Kajai Residential College Dr Mohd Hussein when contacted.

However, he declined to specify on the type of 'incident' which would warrant the disclosure of voter information.

On the alleged threats to students to vote for particular candidates, he said: "In any elections, there are always elements of pressuring among students and candidates. However, nothing has been done against university rules."

Recently, malaysiakini reported about a series of raids carried out by authorities in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) on students' rooms to thwart 'underground activities'.

Campus elections are believed to be held uncommonly early this year to serve as an indicator to the upcoming general election. The last polls were held in December last year.

The tightening of campus election regulations are also said to be due to pressures faced by authorities of several universities, particularly those with so-called 'anti-establishment' student leaders.

Five of 13 public universities - Universiti Malaya (UM), UKM, UPM, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and IIU - have traditionally had 'anti-establishment' student representation.

However, it is expected that present polls would see changes in at least two universities - UPM and IIU.

The results of the campus polls are expected to be announced after 8pm tonight.