A student was expelled from a local university today for being involved in a gathering two weeks ago to protest the arrest of reformasi activists under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Rafzan Ramli, a second-year electrical engineering student with Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara (UiTM), was expelled after a one-hour hearing before a six-member disciplinary committee.

However, the 24-year-old when met denied being involved in the gathering. He claimed he had not been given the chance to defend himself.

"The hearing was very short, but the punishment was too heavy," Rafzan told malaysiakini .

"I deny the allegations. They did not even allow my legal counsel or my witness to be with me during the trial and they gave no reasons for this," he added.

Rafzan said he had appeared before the same committee last week but was told that the matter would be postponed for two weeks.

"However, even before the two weeks were up, I was called for the hearing, therefore giving me little chance to prepare for my defence," he added.

"The authorities said they had proof and a statement from the police, but I was not allowed to see them," he claimed.

"They then told me that I could appeal but I would have to write a letter to the education minister."

On June 8, seven students, including Rafzan, were arrested for allegedly participating in an illegal assembly calling for an end to the ISA. They were held at Dang Wangi district police headquarters for the night and released on police bail the next day.

Rafzan was accused under Act 174 of the Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976 for violating Sections 3(a),(b) and Section 11 which state that a student may not threaten the reputation of the institution, violate any laws on or off campus and participate, organise or initiate any activities of campus without the permission of university authorities.

Legal action

Meanwhile, Rafzam's legal counsel Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff told malaysiakini that he was contemplating legal action against the university and to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam). "We want to take this to the highest level. Rafzan, when he was denied counsel and his witness, was also denied due process of law and the principles of natural justice," he said.

Yusmadi also claimed that he, Rafzam's parents and friends were initially prevented from entering the university to attend the hearing.

"We needed passes to enter but they denied us the passes because of a directive that I believe they had received from the vice-chancellor," he said.

"It was only when I gave them an authorisation letter that they let me in," said Yusmadi.

However, Yusmadi was stopped again by an unidentified security officer from going into the hearing. "I asked him for his identity card but before I could get it from him, he left the scene," he said.

According to Section 64 of the Educational Institutions Act, a student during a disciplinary hearing may bring in, among others, parents, a witness or anybody else allowed by the committee for a specific reason.

UiTM registrar, Mohd Arifin Ibrahim when contacted said only the vice-chancellor, Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah, and the university's corporate division could comment on the matter. However, both parties could not be contacted.

'A shame'

In an immediate reaction, opposition party DAP said it was flabbergasted by the university's action and "strongly condemns" the authorities for their "high-handed move to prosecute students who possess independent thinking", adding that they are "destroying the future of our young generation".

"It's a shame such a drastic action is taken against a student who was merely exercising his right of expression as a rightful citizen of this country," said the party's national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu in a press statement.

Human rights organisation Suaram and several student groups also lambasted UiTM's action.

In a press statement, Suaram said it viewed with grave concern that Rafzan has been denied the right to a fair trial and it is indeed "a shame to UiTM".

The Abolish ISA Student Movement (AISM) called on the university to review its decision and not be a mere "puppet".

Meanwhile, the Youth and Malaysian Students Democratic Movement is planing to submit a memorandum to Suhakam tomorrow, calling for the abolishment of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA)1971 and for UiTM to revoke its decision to expel Rafzan.

The UUCA is an federal statute that limits the political activities of academics and students both on and off campus. Amendments to the act to allow the restrictions were passed during Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's tenure as the Education Minister in the 1970s.