A Barisan Nasional (BN) member of parliament today accused PAS of infiltrating the student movement in local universities.

In his adjournment speech, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tampin Shahziman Abu Mansor criticised PAS for planning to set up booths in campuses to recruit students.

"Their personal agenda is to turn Malay students into their political cadres," he added.

Yesterday, the Education Ministry said it would not hesitate to take stern action against militant students involved in anti-government activities in institutes of higher learning.

The ministry's parliamentary secretary Mahadzir Mohd Khir, who is also BN MP for Sungai Petani, warned students involved in such activities to be prepared for expulsion.

He added that the Universities and University Colleges Act (1971) was not meant to curb healthy student activities in campus.

"The opposition should not blow the issue out of proportion saying that the Act was meant to oppress the students," said Mahadzir.

'Don't disturb students'

Shahziman urged the ministry to stop anti-government propaganda in universities and slammed PAS for spreading lies on campuses.

"The opposition tell lies in order to wrest power from the government. Students carrying out militant activities are synonymous with PAS struggles," he said.

"They have affected not only the students but academic staff who are not professional," he added.

In reply, the Education Ministry stressed that it would ensure universities would remain a place to gain knowledge.

"We will not allow the opposition to disturb our students or our staff," said the ministry's parliamentary secretary Mahadzir.

He reiterated that the ministry would not allow partisan politics to breed in institutions of higher learning.

He said students and staff were given ample opportunities to voice their grievances as the prime minister and deputy prime minister had made visits to local universities to meet with them personally.