University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) criticised the '1MDB and current affairs' talk at the Universiti Malaya last night, describing it as a "brainwashing" session.

"The programme was a brainwashing session aimed at twisting the facts about 1MDB and to confuse the students," said Umany president Ho Chi Yang in a statement today.

He noted that pamphlets titled: "DOJ suit doubtful" (Saman DOJ meragukan) were also distributed to the students.

This was in reference to the civil suit filed by US Department of Justice (DOJ) to recover US$1 billion in assets allegedly stolen from 1MDB.

The DOJ believes that at least US$3.5 billion of 1MDB funds was misappropriated, some of which passed through the US banking system.

"All this proves that the Student Affairs Department as well as the UM Student Representative Council were in cahoots with Umno to brainwash," he alleged.

He noted that the programme, organised by the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), was one-sided, and did not care to invite critics such as Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, who are following the 1MDB matter closely.

1MDB group chief executive officer and president Arul Kanda Kandasamy had personally explained the scandal-hit state fund to students yesterday.

However, Ho said the discussion on 1MDB should have had representation from both defenders and critics.

He also asked that the UM Student Representative Council's chief to resign for aiding in the allegedly one-sided function.