A student who was expelled from a local university for participating in a demonstration, submitted a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today claiming that his right to education was infringed.

Rafzan Ramli wants Suhakam to look into the transparency and fairness of the hearing held by the Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara (UiTM) disciplinary committee yesterday.

The committee expelled Rafzan after the one-hour hearing without allowing him to exercise his legal right to defend himself.

He was dismissed over his participation in an anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) demonstration on June 8 on the grounds that his involvement jeapordised the reputation of the institution.

In his memorandum, Rafzan claimed that the case against him was flawed as it was held almost immediately after he was notified of the charge hence robbing him of the chance to prepare for the case.

"Letters asking me to appear before the committee just came a day or two before the hearing. I had no time to understand the charge against me or to prepare for the case," he said.

'Baseless charge'

He added that the committee did not adduce any evidence to prove his guilt and had not allowed him legal representation or the right to produce witnesses to defend his case.

"The charge against me was also baseless. I was charged for participating in an illegal assembly but I have not been charged in a court of law over that," he said.

Rafzan was accompanied by more than 50 students representing various student bodies, as well as a number of special branch (SB) police officers, to submit the memorandum this morning at Suhakam's office in Jalan Raja Laut.

He submitted the memorandum to commission secretary Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria, who told Rafzan that he would hand over the memorandum to the commissioners on Monday.

He also told the students that the commissioners will meet on Monday and will look into the matter and asked Rafzan to contact the commission next week.

Rafzan said he wanted Suhakam to investigate into the trial procedures and ask UiTM to revoke its decision to expel him.

He also wants Suhakam to look into the flaws of the laws used by the university in convening the trial, especially into provisions which disallow witnesses and legal representative for an accused student.

Police presence

According to Students' Movement against ISA (GMMI) representative Syahrir Mahmood, some 15 SB officers tried to confiscate placards and banners from the students while they were in the Suhakam office.

The students protested against the presence and behaviour of the police, given that they were in a private premises, and called on Kamaruddin to interfere.

"After much pleading and strong protests, Suhakam officials interfered and the SB officers left the building, leaving our placards and banners with us," he said.

Syahrir also said that GMMI hoped Suhakam could guarantee the students of their rights and protect them from being oppressed and persecuted by the universities.

"GMMI feels that the expulsion of Rafzan shows that students are not allowed to express their opinions and views freely," said Syahrir.