A Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) undergraduate has been asked to face the disciplinary committee regarding his articles which appeared in an opposition party organ and the campus publication.

Ali Bukhari Amir, 27, a final year communications student, said today that he received a letter from the Students Affairs and Development Division requesting him to face the committee on Dec 13.

In the article which appeared in the Aug 31 edition of PAS' publication, Harakah , Ali had taken local universities to task for stifling intellectualism among students.

While the article in the USM publication, Berita Kampus , was on the 'separate camps' - known as Aspirasi and Idealisma Mahasiswa - during the latest campus elections.

It is a well-known fact that partisan politics is prevalent in local universities, where students are seen as either 'pro-establishment' or 'pro-opposition'.

Article junked

According to Ali, he wrote another article on the alliances in campus but this was not published by Berita Kampus.

He claimed that Students Affairs and Development Division Deputy Chancellor Jamaludin Mohaiadin told him that the article was junked to avoid segregation among students.

"My article is not going to divide students. They are already segregated. Some other articles my friend and I wrote on Soh Sook Hwa were also not approved," he said when contacted.

Soh, a final year journalism student in USM, was recently issued a warning and slapped with a fine not exceeding RM200, for being involved in the campaign of an opposition leader during the recent general election.

Ali stressed that it was not appropriate for Jamaludin to vet his articles.

"He has no journalism background. I don't think it was reasonable of him to do that," he said.

The communications student said that USM administrators do not want to see opposition sentiments taking root in campus.

"When students are given the freedom in politics, they are more inclined to choose who they think are more capable. They might want to choose the opposition," he added.

Ali also critised the University and Universities Colleges Act (UUCA) as an impartial tool which curbs students.

"The students are always in the wrong. Is the mighty always right?" he asked.