Yee Yang Yang, 19, a first-year student in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), is a lanky soft-spoken Chinese boy who hails from Tawau, a small town in Sabah.

In a recent interview with Malaysiakini , Yee related his feelings over the media coverage he received following a tussle between him and UPM security authorities who confiscated his belongings.

In his earlier teenage years, he has always viewed Peninsular Malaysia as a place of dreams - dreams that reflected civilisation, intellectuality and creativity.

"It was much more chaotic back at home. Security is such an issue there because of the heavy presence of illegal immigrants," said Yee, referring to his hometown.

"I have always viewed universities as a 'paradise'. This perception was imbued in me by my sister," he said.

'I'm a nobody'

However, Yee said that his indulgence in his self-concocted ideals ended prematurely after only three months in UPM.

His dreams of finding paradise in university were crushed by a reality he had never expected.

Yee told Malaysiakini that until today, he has no idea as to why he was subjected to such treatment by the university authorities.

Yee, admitting his fear, is clueless on why he was chosen as the target.

"I'm only a first-year student. I am a nobody. I don't know why they targeted me," he said.

Yee also explained that things do not look good for him back at Tawau.

"Sabah dailies, with no knowledge of campus elections, has higlighted my name in the negative manner.

"This has led to family members and neighbours pressuring my parents for answers and asked if I have offended any particular race," he said

Fortunately, he said, his family had a ready answer - a simple 'no'.

Yee also related how his mother had not been able to sleep, and how the family had instructed his sister to return home if the situations gets any worse. Yee's sister is also a university student in the peninsula.

"She's (Yee's mother) worried that I will be suspended and persecuted by the campus authorities because the vice-chancellor had said I have committed various offences. My mother even asked if I had pornographic materials in my laptop," said a worried Yee.

Belongings not returned

Yee is also very grateful to his family members who have displayed nothing less than support for their only son.

Yee's sister, never lacking optimism, had told him that she would write a letter of complaint to the university though it is uncertain as to how such a move will deter the VC from penalising Yee.

"They (Yee's family) said I must fight for my rights and that I need not fear if I am not guilty," Yee said with determination.

"Before I came to UPM, my parents told me to make friends with not just students, but also with people outside university, so I will be wiser and not ignorant of the society I am living in," he added.

Yee's case is currently under investigation by UPM authorities and they have yet to return Yee's belongings.

The Bar Council Human Rights Committee, which is of the view that Yee's case was a gross violation of his basic human rights, has promised to aid Yee in any way possible.