2dPoint

In several universities malaysiakini visited today, the campus polls went without a hitch, although several universities displayed underhand tactics in ensuring that the pro-establishment group wins.

In Universiti Putra Malaysia, the e-voting system was down for more than three hours this morning, from 9am to 12.30 pm.

By after lunch, malaysiakini found that the polling stations began to recover.

Students who were unable to vote expressed their resentment against the university. At Hostel 13, for example, it was found that many students were forced to queue up in a long line the stretches to outside the hostel. It rained at 12 pm, and students without umbrellas had to bear with it.

UPM authorities has made it compulsory for all students to vote. Students who did not register to vote, are required to write an explanation letter to the authorities.

Today, the UPM hall is under tight security, with guards placed at every hostel entrance. Each vehicle is subjected to checks and the media are prohibited from entering the university compound.

In Universiti Malaya (UM), the election ran smoothly despite a quarantine for hostel students who were required to vote before leaving the hostel. All main gates to colleges were found to be closed.

In this year’s election, the UM election committee no longer records the serial numbers of each ballot as the voting process proceeded at the main auditorium. However, malaysiakini could not confirm that the same practice is carried at other universities.

When approached, several anti-establishment student leaders alleged that the university’s hostel management limited students from campaigning in the college. The campaigning period was reduced to half an hour and speeches at five minutes each.

Power cut off

Student leaders said they had trouble with audio system. “But when the pro-establishment students speak, the system is okay again,” claimed one student.

There were also allegations that pro-establishment students were handing out free t-shirts while they were campaigning.

Students residing at hostels also alleged that they were called up by the hostel quartermaster to attend a dialogue.

“When some students refused to come down, the hostel authorities cut off the power,” said second-year business administration student Fou Hou Thek.

In the dialogue, the students were asked to vote for Aspirasi candidates. Students claimed that authorities cut the power of at least ten colleges to get students to come down. There were at least four kinds of dialogues; one conducted in Mandarin, one in Bahasa Malaysia, one for senior students and one for first year students. The dialogue were conducted by students, who said they had the authority of the hotel quartermaster.

It was also alleged students were told that if the voting turnout exceeds 90 percent, the hostel management would reduce the hostel rent from RM6.50 per day to RM5.50 per day. Students said the information was found on notices placed in College 12, in which students were also advised to vote for Aspirasi candidates.

Meanwhile, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA)’s Gombak anti-establishment group, ‘We United for Islam’ (WUFI), is expected to win today, as the university’s Aspirasi camp has only sent six candidates to contest for a total of 26 seats.

WUFI has sent 16 candidates, including four international students (two from Palestine, two from Afghanistan) to contest. WUFI has won 4 seats uncontested while the pro-establishment students won four on nomination day.

In UIA’s Kuantan campus, the election will only be contested by individuals. Aspirasi has not sent any candidates to the Kuantan campus.

Face-saving tactic

This year, the voting is done via e-voting, and a total of 11 polling stations were opened throughout UIA Gombak today. After allegations of vote tempering last year, a WUFI spokesperson said it has assigned three students to monitor the polling stations.

“We know the number of students who voted. We want to make sure the figures are not inflated,” said Zikul Amin WUFI election co-ordinator.

There were also allegations by WUFI of a last-minute smearing campaign by the Aspirasi camp.

“Around six this morning, we found some students distributing pamphlets, which had the WUFI logo on it” said one student. The official cut-off time for campaigning was 12 midnight last night.

“The pamphlets stated that those who vote for Aspirasi candidates are infidels and if WUFI wins this election there will be stricter curfew rules, and that male and female students will be separated at all times,” said the student.

Students said that the low turn-out by Aspirasi this year was due low academic performance. It is a requirement that candidates achieve at least a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.8.

However, former WUFI student leader Amin Idrus felt otherwise: “They didn’t contest that many seats because they knew there are going to lose. It’s a face saving tactic.”