A coalition of student, youth and rights organisations today hit back at the authorities of six universities across the nation, by making public a list of high-handed actions by university authorities in the recently held campus elections.

In a press conference today, the coalition which calls itself Jerit, charged that the campus authorities have violated the rules of fair and democratic elections, by intimidating voters and preventing certain candidates from running for student office.

These allegations of impropriety were levelled against authorities from six key public universities - Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

The groups say that the recent campus polls - held simultaneously across the country on Sept 4 - were allowed by the universities to be tainted by outside political influence and money politics .

Despite a major campaign by 'pro-government' students, allegedly supported by campus authorities, 'anti-establishment' students retained power in UM, USM and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) - some decidedly with a lower majority - and succeeded in regaining control in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

However, 'pro-establishment' teams (popularly known as Aspirasi Kerajaan,

or 'government asipiration') won in the 'anti-establishment' strongholds of UPM and UKM. [ see chart ]

Pemuda Umno and MIC involved

According to the group's statement, 'pro-aspirasi' (pro-aspiration) candidates at UKM were allegedly given RM1,000 and a mobile-phone by Pemuda Umno upon their nomination to the polls.

Even Education Minister Musa Mohamad had, at the same varsity on Aug 29, one week before the polls, given a speech which "sounded like he was campaigning in favour of 'aspirasi' candidates," said Jerit representative Chang Lih Kang.

"Of course we have no documentation to prove our claims (of money politics) as receipts are not issued to students who receive money. But we have spoken to students who had refused to take the money, which can serve as evidence. Both Nanyang Siang Pau and malaysiakini

had also previously reported on this," said Chang.

According to Jerit, other instances of political party interference was when both Pemuda Umno and Pemuda MIC were invited to UM's campus to encourage students to vote for the 'pro-aspirasi' team.

"Student have been threatened that they be removed from the college by heads of colleges and the student affairs' department, if they did not vote for 'pro-aspirasi' candidates,"said Khairul Anwar, chairperson of the Council of Muslim Undergraduate Associations.

The interference of campus authorities in UUM include threats by its deputy vice-chancellor Mustapha Ishak against candidates who were not sanctioned by the administration, the group said.

Additionally, "outside individuals dressed in black were assigned to chase and hit any individual who was against the university administrators."

University involvement

In both UKM and UUM, student votes were made known when authorities jotted down the names of voters together with the serial number on their voting forms, they claim.

In the case of UM, the group cited the particular involvement of deputy vice-chancellor of student affairs for allegedly discrediting the reputation of the Muslim Undergraduate Association and the past year's student council representatives during the election run-up.

"During the campaign period, head of residential colleges, particularly the Twelfth College, joined in by campaigning and distributing 'pro-aspirasi' leaflets," said Khairul.

In USM, the university's student affairs department published a bulletin that clearly supported 'pro-aspirasi' candidates, the group said.

At this campus, the total number of votes cast were kept secret - Jerit contend that the problem with this is that if votes were discarded, such foul play cannot be known.

According to Lua Khang Wei, a newly-installed student councillor at UPM, intimidation was even extended to his family, where his parents received three phone calls from unidentified individuals who expressed their concern that Lua was involved in unhealthy activities, including having joined PAS.

Independent investigators

In addition to raising examples of abuse, the group demand that the Education Ministry and university authorities change a number their existing practices in running campus elections.

These include a call that the ministry assign independent investigators to look into allegations of elections impropriety and interference.

The groups also want campus authorities to guarantee the democratic right of students to vote freely, including the right for ballots to be kept secret, the right to campaign, and protection from threats, intimidation and use of force.

"Campus elections commission should be independent. As election gatekeepers, they should not side, campaign for or pressure student to vote for particular candidates."

Vote counting must involve both sides, said the group, and the use of computers in the case of the UPM elections is unacceptable so long as candidates cannot verify that the process is untainted.

"We are forced to bring this issue out to the open as all avenues within the university system is closed to us," said Chang.

"Furthermore, the university authorities are the ones involved, including deputy vice-chancellors, in threatening student to vote in favour of 'aspirasi' candidates," he said.

"In UPM, we have reported (interference of university administration) to higher up university authorities, but until now there is no response."

The student polls, which are normally held at the end of the year, were organised earlier as a 'parting gift' from the university authorities to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is resigning next month.