A Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) communications student, under investigation for an alleged damaging article he had written in the campus newspaper and Harakah, has been warned not to reveal details of the probe.

Ali Bukhari Amir, who reports for Berita Kampus, was also told to obtain clearance from the university in future for his articles to the media.

A USM source told malaysiakini yesterday that Ali was questioned for almost two hours at the university over articles published in Berita Kampus and Harakah dated Sept 27 and Aug 31 respectively.

He was repeatedly asked whether he realised his articles have damaged the university's image.

The source said that Ali insisted "he did not tarnish the university's image," but instead asked for the real culprit to be revealed.

Ali was also questioned regarding his intention on writing the article on the campus's recent election results in Berita Kampus. He was also asked why he did not quote the Student Affairs and Development Division's deputy chancellor, Professor Madya Jamaludin Mohaiadin's statement on who won the campus election last September.

Ali was said to have responded that as he was unable to reach Jamaludin, he had to turn to his next best source of information.

Active involvement

The investigation also focused on Ali's active involvement in writing articles internally and to the media.

The source added that Ali was self-motivated to write on social issues which he deemed important such as creating a conducive environment in USM for intellectuals.

He claimed in his article published in Harakah that USM had not been providing a conducive environment to produce intellectual leaders.

Ali had written in Harakah claiming that USM had finalised its next Majlis Penghuni Desasiwa (MPD) will be appointed by the Student Affairs and Development Division and not by election.

Ali's article in Berita Kampus was entitled "Idealisma Mahasiswa menang tipis 19-18 kepada Aspirasi".

According to the source, the investigation committee has yet to come up with any definite decision on the Ali issue. However, he might be called up again if necessary, the source added.

The five-member investigation committee consisted of the university's Securities Division Head, Noor Rizan Khalid, Student Affairs and Development Division senior assistant registrar Nazru Ismail who is also the Aman-Damai Residential College Warden, School of Communications' Deputy Dean Academic and Students Development Mohamad Haji Md Yusoff, Student Affairs and Development Division assistant registrar Haryani Hasenan.

Contacted yesterday, Noor Rizan declined to comment on the outcome of the investigation. The other committee members could not be contacted.