(Petaling Jaya, Saturday) DAP condemns both Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Nik Mustapha R. Abdulla and Higher Education Minister Mustapa Mohamed for letting off a large group of student hooligan leaders of UPM without punishment for their violent behaviour against a small group of student at the UPM canteen on July 17. Professor Dr Nik said the inquiry panel decided that those involved would be “advised” and “re-educated” on the correct behaviour on campus and the need to respect the university's rules and regulations.

DAP rejects the 5-man inquiry panel’s findings after 3 weeks’ investigation, that the incident was non-political and non-violent, as biased selective and a complete cover-up. How can this be not political when dozens of the ‘pro-establishment’ students - who are backed by campus authorities - had manhandled fellow students perceived to be from the rival ‘independent’ camp? How can Professor Dr Nik say that it was non-violent when the video clip of the incident clearly showed the 11 students heckling, pushing and intimidating another group of students in a most uncivilized manner?

Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah said that only letters will be issued to all the students to educate them but the student leaders will not be punished for pushing, heckling and scolding them. Clearly there are double-standards as even the victims are “punished” by being issued the same letters as the perpetrators. This is not the academic freedom, integrity and honesty envisaged in a university like UPM when it does not practice what it preaches.

A second chance to these hooligan students is to allow them to continue their studies in UPM without expulsion. But the least the UPM authorities can do is demand that the hooligan student leaders openly and publicly apologise to the victims for their violent conduct and resign from their student offices to show remorse. By failing to punish them is to condone such violence and accept that black is white and white is black. Clearly UPM’s image is the greatest loser when its top academics fail to uphold the truth, accountability and transparency as well as condone violence just to protect its supporters.

DAP also condemns Datuk Mustapa Mohamad for supporting the UPM’s disgraceful conduct. It is a sad day for Malaysia’s universities when the Higher Education Minister can support bare-faced lies by Professor Dr Nik that the  pro-campus authority students:-

·  were singing and cheering, and not shouting’.

· a press photographer whose camera was damaged while recording the scuffle, the vice-chancellor claimed the reporter concerned, from the Chinese vernacular news website Merdeka Review, had confessed that the damage occurred due to her own carelessness.

Deputy Education Minister Ong Tee Keat should state his stand whether he supports the position taken buy Datuk Mustapa and UPM, and if so explain the reasons why. If Ong wishes to maintain his credibility and integrity as a unique MCA leader who speaks up courageously because of a principled stand for right and justice,, then he should publicly demand that the UPM Vice-Chancellor be sacked for condoning violence, failing to uphold truth, accountability and transparency. Otherwise Ong will show he is no different from other MCA leaders who say one thing but do another.

(19/08/2006)