A statement of seven demands for freedom on campuses has found endorsement from 55 organisations since it was launched by the Malaysian Students' Solidarity (SMM) movement.

The demands are linked to the recent problem-ridding campus elections and disciplinary action against students who had protested the exercise.

SMM wants all charges against the students to be dropped, the election to be declared unlawful and free and fair elections to be held. It demands action against those responsible for the irregularities during the elections, an end to violation of student rights, and abolition of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA).

Copies of the statement will be sent to Higher Education Minister Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh and to the eight public universities which have instituted disciplinary action against the students. Among them are Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Malaya (UM).

SMM chairperson Ahmad Rifauddin Abd Wahab told reporters at a press conference yesterday that support would be solicited from groups in other countries. Thailand's Young People for Democracy Movement has already endorsed the statement.

"We're contacting some groups, but it will take time to explain the situation and to communicate with them," said Rifauddin.

SMM has also launched a nationwide signature campaign to urge the higher education ministry to hold free and fair campus polls, drop all charges against students and abolish the UUCA.

"We hope to collect 10,000 signatures in two months. The petition will be sent to the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahamd Badawi next month," said Kong Wee Cheng, secretary of Malaysia Youth and Students Democracy Movement, a member of SMM.

Kong said that students and the public can support the campaign through SMM members in various campuses or by visiting the petition website .

Funds required

Peninsular Islamic Students Coalition (Gamis) president Mohd Hanif Baderun, who attended the press conference, said the SMM has set up a fund-raising drive to support the revival of democracy and justice in universities.

"The funds will be used to publish booklets and flyers, organise talks and activities to revive justice and democracy in campuses and to abolish the UUCA," he added.

Rifauddin further said the SMM will continue to gather support through various channels, revealing that a meeting is being sought with the Parliamentary Human Rights Caucus and Backbenchers Club.

Ten students have been charged for being involved in a protest against the campus elections which were marred by allegations of irregularities and intimidation. Six are from UPM, three from UM and one from USM.

All the hearings have been postponed for various reasons.

UPM students are sitting the final examination. UM has informally informed the students that their hearing will be held next semester, while USM has not set a date as yet.