The Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) students who are being charged early next month for allegedly campaigning in the Hulu Selangor by-election have urged their university to drop the charges.

NONE The final year students, speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, claimed that they were in Hulu Selangor as "political science students, who went to the ground to understand real politics."

"It is common for political science students to attend election campaigns, just like medical students who go to hospitals," one of the students, Muhammad Hilman Idham told reporters.

Furthermore, he added, the Hulu Selangor by-election campaign was not the first one which he had attended, and he had never encountered any problems before.

Asked why he was in Hulu Selangor during the campaign period of the by-election, Muhammad Hilman said that he was "only hitching a ride with an activist" and he was "not there to campaign".

Also present to lend support at the press conference were student leaders from Malaysian Student Solidarty (SMM), Youth and Student Democratic Movement (Dema) and Peninsula Islamic Student Coalition (GAMIS).

‘ UKM infringing freedom of movement'

In their joint statement, the students claimed that the charges made against them were a "transgression from the norms of academia and infringes on the freedom of movement guaranteed to all Malaysian citizens".

"The entire student body condemns the irresponsible actions of the UKM Student Affairs Department, which is an attempt to scare students with rules that go against intellectual values that should be instilled by the university administration and Ministry of Higher Education," the statement read.

The students had received charge papers on May 13 stating that they will be charged under Section 15 (5) of the University and University Colleges Act (UCCA), which reads:

"No organisation, body or group of students of the university which is established by, under or in accordance with the Constitution, or any other organisation, body or group of students of the university, shall express or do anything which may be construed as expressing support, sympathy or opposition to - (a) any political party whether or not it is in Malaysia."

NONE Muhammad Hilman was arrested along with Azlin Shafina at Pekan Rasa, Hulu Selangor on Apr 22 for "carrying and owning CDs and pamphlets expressing support or sympathies for or opposition to a political party contesting in the by-election".

Muhammad Ismail was arrested in Ampang Pecah on the same day with three other individuals - including a course mate - while they were in a van which contained political leaflets.

However, another of their friends who was also in the van with them was not charged.

Muhammad Hilman was re-arrested on another day for allegedly ignoring the orders from the Ministy of Higher Education and UKM to leave Hulu Selangor and not get involved in the by-election.

His hearing at the university court is due take place on Jun 2, while Muhammad Ismail and Azlin Shafina will face the court on the following day.

If found guilty, the students can be either expelled or suspended from their studies.