After Universiti Putra Malaysia ( UPM ), the campus witch-hunt continues in the oldest and most prestigious public university in the country, University Malaya (UM).

Yesterday, three UM students, from the so-called 'anti-establishment' camp, were hauled up for disciplinary hearings under the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).

Two of them, Karim Abdul Rahim and Hafizuddin Mohammad were charged with distributing questionnaires on student welfare.

Under the campus regulations, students are prohibited from distributing any material without consent from the student affairs department.

This is Karim's second run-in with the authorities. He had previously lodged a police report against UM after he was allegedly assaulted by a university official before the campus elections in September.

Rude behaviour

The third student to face disciplinary proceedings, Zainulfaqar Yaacob, was accused of rude behaviour towards an university official and for interrupting the latter's work when he quizzed the official regarding Karim's alleged assault.

On Wednesday, another four students were taken to task for welcoming freshies at the KL Sentral and distributing leaflets without consent from the student affairs department.

The students are members of the Islamic Students Association which is also part of the anti-establishment camp but is also recognised by the UM authority.

The UM student coalition, which is aligned to the anti-establishment camp, held a rally outside the student affairs department yesterday morning to show their support for the trio.

Some 30 students had took part in the protest but there were no banners, placards or slogans.

Representatives from the UM Student Coalition and Malaysian Students Solidarity (SMM) urged the campus authority to drop the charges against the students.

"Our demand is also supported by Parliamentary Human Rights Caucus chairperson (and minister in the prime minister's department) Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and 55 NGOs," said SMM spokesperson Ahmad Rifauddin Abdul Wahab.

The students also called on the university to rescind the charges against another four students who were taken to task for holding a welcoming reception for freshies at the KL Sentral and distributing leaflets without consent from the student affairs department.

The students are members of the Islamic Students Association which is also part of the anti-establishment camp but is also recognised by the UM authority.

Students expelled

Meanwhile, Rifauddin also claimed that 41 students from UM residential college No 5 were expelled from the hostel due to their involvement in rallies held by SMM.

According to a Chinese newspaper report yesterday, the head of the residential college said the students were expelled because their contract had expired.

Campus politics are divided between the pro-establishment camp, which is said to have the backing of the campus authority, and the anti-establishment camp.

September's nationwide campus elections was fraught with allegations of irregularities, harassment and intimidation. There were student boycotts at five universities.

All 17 public universities were seized by the pro-establishment camp.

In UPM, six students have been charged for various offences in relation to elections such as for instigating others to boycott, participating in protest rallies.

However, their proceedings have been postponed following strong protests from students and other quarters.