A string of incidents involving the discrimination against undergraduates by local universities recently have generated more awareness on the importance of campus democracy.

A group of 26 non-governmental organisations, prompted by the recent cancellation of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Chinese New Year cultural expo, today handed in a memorandum to the university's vice-chancellor Dr Ahmad Zaharudin Idrus, urging him to retract show-cause letters issued to three of its students.

The university had on Feb 23 issued show-cause letters to Lee Khai Loon, Liew Weng Kong and Cheong Soon Aun for "participating in an illegal assembly". The trio then submitted their response to the university authorities on March 7.

They were part of an assembly of about 200 students who sent a memorandum to the vice-chancellor to protest against the university's decision not to allow the holding of the exhibition on Feb 23 on the ground that the activity involved only one community.

Expressing dissatisfaction on the manner the university restrict students' activities, the NGOs also urged the vice-chancellor to allow all types of cultural activities to be held within the campus.

The memorandum was personally handed in to the vice-chancellor's office this morning by six representatives of the NGOs, which included the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Rights Committee and Johor Baru Chinese Association.

The other NGOs who signed the memorandum included Suaram, Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam Universiti Malaya, International Movement For A Just World and Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor.

The memorandum was received by UTM Deputy Registrar Siti Nur Azrimah Hassan Pasri on behalf of the vice-chancellor, who was not in his office.

According to the memorandum, the UTM ban on the Chinese New Year expo is the latest incident where students were severely punished for their activities under the Universities and University Colleges Act.

Those who fell foul of the Act include Ahmad Zaki Yamani Zainon who was expelled from the Universiti Teknologi Mara and Ong Sun Hwi who was suspended for one semester by UTM, for their alleged involvement in illegal demonstrations.

"We will follow up on this action closely and if the university fails to give any response, we will send another letter in two weeks' time," SCAH president Tan Ah Chai said in a press conference after the handing over of the memorandum this afternoon.

Another representative, from the Negri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section Low Chee Boon said that the organisation managed to get about 100 youth leaders from various organisations in Seremban to support the action.

The NSCAH had earlier in the month announced that the organisation would launch a signature campaign.

It was reported that the university administration will be meeting student representatives to discuss the matter on Thursday.