Disciplinary proceedings against five Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) students who allegedly protested the recent controversial campus polls were postponed today after they requested that they be first allowed to complete their semester's final examination.

Lim Sook Swan, Simon Ooi, Ahmad Taufiq Kamarudin, Tan Kar Hing and Mohd Hisyamudin Ghazalih are accused of being involved in a campaign to boycott the polls, which was marred by allegations of irregularities and intimidation.

Taufiq's and Hisyamudin's next hearing is scheduled for Nov 24, Lim on Nov 25 while dates for the others were not fixed. Another UPM student charged, Ridhuan Othman, is scheduled to attend his hearing tomorrow where he is also expected to ask for a postponement.

Earlier, a request from Lim and Ooi that they be represented by a lawyer was rejected by the university's disciplinary panel which said that the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), under which the students are charged under, had no provision for legal representation.

Their lawyer, Nik Mohamed Ikhwan Nik Mahamud, later told reporters that the university's decision was against the Federal Constitution "... as Article 5 of the Federal Constitution clearly states that everybody has the right to be represented by lawyer in any hearing".

Campus authorities later called in the riot police to disperse a peaceful student rally held in front of the campus main gates in support of the five students.

Speeches, banners

Representatives from NGOs and political parties had turned up for the hearing today as a show of support but had to contend with tight security with many of them not being allowed in. Reporters, too, were barred from entering the campus grounds.

The crowd of about 70 including UPM students then gathered at the campus main gates for an impromptu rally. Several student leaders gave speeches while the crowd hoisted banners and placards calling for a return of campus democracy.

Failing to disperse the crowd after several attempts, the campus authority called in the riot police. Upon arrival, an officer told the crowd, "If you don't disperse in five minutes time, then you will see". After short negotiation with the police, the crowd agreed to disperse.

Meanwhile, on campus, banners put up by the university's student representative council were seen at several locations.

'UPM's Student Representative Council (recognised by the 1971 UUCA and UPM constitution) condemn SMM (Malaysian Students Solidarity). They are an illegal organisation, they do not represent the university students', read the banners.

SMM is a coalition of 'anti-establishment' students which led the protest against the campus election.

Controversial polls

Those from NGOs and political parties who turned up today included DAP State Assemblyman for Sungai Pinang Teng Chang Kim, DAP State Assemblyman for Lobak Loke Siew Fook, Keadilan Youth deputy secretary Zahir Hassan, Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Division acting president Tan Soon Lim and Suaram Coordinator S Arutchelvan.

To date, 10 university students have been charged for their involvement in the recent campus election. Six are from UPM , three from Universiti Malaya and one from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

In the controversial campus elections in September, student council seats at all 17 public universities nationwide for the first time in history were won by pro-establishment' student camps (Aspirasi Kerajaan camp) which were backed by campus authorities. There were student boycotts at five major universities.

Over the years, government and campus authorities have overtly backed pro-establishment student factions in a bid to stamp out anti-government forces in campuses nationwide.

The pro-government groups, with the help from the authorities, have progressively knocked out anti-establishment students from the student representatives councils.