Universiti Malaya's Chinese Language Society (CLS) was suspended for a term because of its failure to translate its notices in Malay or English and conducting "unauthorised" activities.

The lack of Bahasa Malaysia and English in CLS posters was listed as one of the causes of the society's suspension for the ongoing semester.

This was according to a show cause letter given to CLS by UM's student affairs department on Oct 3.

CLS president Wong Yan Ke told a press conference today that the letter had demanded that the society provide an explanation for four alleged violations.

The four actions that were highlighted were unauthorised activities, unauthorised use of the venue, posting notices without permission, and that there was only Chinese but no Malay or English translations of the notice posted.

He also stated that the society had replied to the department and met the vice-chancellor twice to explain themselves, but the suspension was handed out anyway.

"We tried our best to comply the issues raised... but the suspension has still not been lifted," said Wong (photo).

The suspension, which is in effect for the Sept 2017 to Feb 2018 semester, means that the society's annual general meeting on Sept 21 would also be null and void.

Wong said that the issue stemmed from CLS' posters which served as directions to a music workshop.

A complaint was lodged on the basis that the seven-word poster was not in English or Malay and the society was accused of causing ethnic friction.

'Punishment is too harsh'

Wong said his group had admitted they made some mistakes but the penalty was disproportionate to the offence and sought a review.

"The punishment is too harsh. We didn't even receive any warning letters before we received the suspension.

"We call for a review and streamlining of existing administrative procedures," he said.

Wong said that the upcoming National Varsity Chinese Debate Competition, the National Secondary School Chinese Language Society Camp and other activities for the public will be in jeopardy.

The UM society is one of the oldest Chinese language societies in Malaysian public universities.

It was closed down by the university in 1974, at the height of student movement activity in Malaysia, after it was hit with allegations of being “involved in communist activities.”

After repeated appeals for over a decade, the society was finally resurrected in 1986.

Another Chinese language society, from Universiti Sains Malaysia, was technically suspended in the 2001/2002 academic year after receiving a show-cause letter from the university seeking an explanation for allegedly breaching the University and Colleges Act 1971.