The searing heat was unable to deter some 100 university students from peacefully demonstrating against the University and University Colleges Act (Uuca) in a show of solidarity with a fellow student who is taking his university to court for alleged malpractices during campus student polls.

Setting the tone with striking red headbands which read 'Abolish Uuca', the group chanted various student slogans as they marched briskly from the Masjid Jamek LRT station to the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Outside the court, several student representatives took turns to deliver short speeches denouncing the Uuca and 'unfair practices' by campus authorities during last year's controversial student polls.

The 45-minute event organised by the student coalition Malaysian Students' Solidarity (SMM) ended without incident. Several policemen were on stand-by at the venue.

Earlier, the High Court yet again postponed the hearing of the case filed Mozahiri Shamsudin who is seeking a judicial review of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) new student election rules.

Rules 'unlawful'

The first of its kind, the case has already been postponed twice this year. The next hearing date was fixed for June 23.

Counsel Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly told the students gathered outside the court that his client Mozahiri would pursue the case up to the Federal Court should the need arise.

Among the campus rules Mozahiri disputes is the requirement for candidates to pass a public speaking test plus interview sessions conducted by university authorities.

He contends that the new requirements were unlawful and could violate the right to equality under the Federal Constitution.

Last September, 'pro-government' student factions, in a clean sweep, won all local campuses' student elections, including at the IIU, amidst boycotts from their rivals.