Pro-student groups today lamented the restrictions imposed by Universiti Malaya on the UM Association of New Youths' (Umany), which includes the disqualification of its vice-president from contesting in the campus elections.

Tan Jia You told a press conference that he was disqualified at the nomination stage.

"I was not given any reasons or justifications. I have been barred from contesting in all student elections from now on," said the third-year finance student.

Tan was one of the four UM students charged by the university's disciplinary committee in May this year, for holding up placards bearing the words "1MDB, pulangkan duit rakyat" (Return the people's money 1MDB), at a town hall event in Oct last year.

The students are in the process of appealing the guilty verdict in the High Court.

When contacted, UM deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs) Rohana Yusof said that those complaining should read the Student Representative Council's election guidelines, which states that students found guilty of misconduct by the university cannot contest.

Nevertheless, Tan’s campaign mate, Umany president Kon Hua En, maintained that the disqualification was unfair...