Umno Youth was today told to lodge a report to the Education Ministry on the purported "10-minute anti-government" speeches given by some university lecturers.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the ministry would ensure that all universities not flout rules and regulations that ban lecturers from spreading political influence on campus.

He warned that the government would take stern action against the lecturers concerned.

"Those who have the information pertaining to anti-government speeches in campus must lodge a report to the Education Ministry for further action.

"The ministry must take stern action if there is proof that university lecturers deliver anti-government speeches to undergraduates," he told a press conference at the Internal Affairs Department in Putrajaya here today.

Responding to a statement from Umno vice-president Najib Tun Razak, Abdullah asked Najib or anyone who have information regarding the matter to lodge reports to the Education Ministry for further action.

"I strongly believe that they (Umno Youth) have adequate information about the misconduct of some university lecturers. They should report to the ministry immediately," he said.

Clear evidence

Najib had on Saturday called on Umno Youth to come up with clear proof of its claim that university lecturers devote about 10 minutes of their lectures to delivering anti-government political speech.

Najib, who is also defence minister, said that the government could only take action against the lecturers concerned if there was clear evidence.

Party secretary-general Khalil Yaakob also urged the ministry to investigate such claims and clarify the matter not only with the government but also the people.

On Friday, Umno Youth's Education Bureau chairperson Dr Adham Baba alleged that some lecturers spent about 10 minutes running down the government during their lectures.

He however did not identify the lecturers or universities concerned.