Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) today suspended four final-year students and fined two other students for their involvement in various 'anti-establishment' activities last year.

A USM source told malaysiakini that the suspended students were Lee Yen Ting, Choo Chon Kai, Loke Chee Hoe and Nurul Fatean. All of them received a one-semester suspension.

In addition to the suspension, Lee, who is also the chairperson of the Chinese Language Society, was slapped a RM200 fine.

The university authorities also fined two other students, both in their second year and members of the Chinese Language Society, RM150 each, the source adds though their identities were not known.

It is believed the students were found guilty of possessing documents which were "detrimental to campus stability".

Tension mounting

Lee was charged with being involved in an "illegal assembly" and for refusing to attend a 'meeting' with the USM security department officers.

The "illegal assembly" held in November 2000, was a gathering to protest against the vision schools. Both Loke and Nurul were also accused of the same offence.

Meanwhile, Chinese-language society secretary, Choo, was punished for selling and wearing anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) badges, and putting up anti-ISA posters in the Chinese Language Society room.

The disciplinary actions meted on the students were the results of the hearings which began last year.

Problems between the USM Chinese Language Society members and university authority began last year when the students took part in a debate in Singapore without the university's consent. The involved students were fined for their defiance.

Tension between the university authority and society members have been simmering since.