University student representatives today urged the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to take immediate action against the ongoing 'witch hunt' by campus authorities nationwide following a boycott of student council elections recently.

About 30 students held a dialogue at the commission's headquarters to highlight what they claimed to be abuses by the university authorities.

They claimed disciplinary action taken against students over their involvement in the campus polls last month had violated their rights.

During the dialogue, the students requested that Suhakam issue a public statement on the matter, send observers to the disciplinary proceedings and organise a roundtable meeting with the vice-chancellors and students.

No immediate action

However, Suhakan commissioner Abdul Munir Yaakob said the requests will be discussed at the commission's meeting on Nov 11 before any decisions can be made.

Abdul Munir told the students that Suhakam must first verify the allegations, hear the explanations from campus authorities and collect evidence before making a stand or initiating action.

When the dissatisfied students pressed for immediate action, the commissioner said he would inform chairperson Abu Talib Othman as soon as possible adding the latter had the power to send observers to attend the proceedings.

"But we still need to get permission from the campus authorities first," he told reporters after the dialogue saying that Suhakam had faced problems when dealing with campus authorities.

"When we met with the deputy vice-chancellors, they said the power is held by the vice-chancellor and they cannot make any decision. When we contacted the vice-chancellors, they said the power is with the minister of higher education," he said.

"We will see the minister through the proper procedure," he added.

Drop all charges

According to the students, eight of their peers from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have been hauled up for disciplinary action under the Universities and University Colleges Act and other various university regulations.

Two students from UM were charged with distributing questionnaires on student welfare. One of them, Karim Abdul Rahim, who was allegedly assaulted by a university official before the campus polls, has also lodged a report on the matter.

The other UM student, Zainulfaqar Yaacob, was charged with rude behaviour against an university official and for interrupting the latter's work. One USM student was charged for distributing 'Students Manifesto' flyers.

At UPM, four students were charged for various offences such as allegedly instigating others to boycott the polls and for participating in two protest rallies at Parliament and Suhakam . Four more UPM students are also expected to be hauled up for disciplinary proceedings over the same matter

When met, chairperson of the Malaysian Students Solidarity (SMM) organisation, Ahmad Rifauddin, said all the charges should be withdrawn.

In last month's controversial campus polls , marred by allegations of intimidation and irregularities, all 17 public universities nationwide were won by the pro-establishment student camps.

There were student boycotts at five major universities.