Malaysian undergraduate Ali Bukhari Amir is being investigated over his personal comment website by the Science University of Malaysia (USM) authorities. He was questioned for one hour by university authorities on 15 March 2005.

The investigative committee also questioned Ali over his involvement with the Federal Public Students Movement (GARAP) and over two cheques he received. One cheque came from local NGO Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) and the other from Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia.

A source who wished to remain anonymous said that the cheques were for articles published in the CAP magazine Utusan Konsumer and in the Utusan Malaysia newspaper respectively. GARAP is a student writing group on current affairs.

Ali had also been asked to refrain from publishing the letter notifying him of the interview on the Internet or storing it where it might be 'misused'. Both the Malay-language cover note and letter can be found on Ali's website.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs and Development, Jamaluddin Mohaiadin, was unavailable for comment.

Ali, a final-year mass communication student, was also grilled last year over articles he wrote for student and other publications.

Students of higher learning in Malaysia are bound by the Universities and University Colleges Act. The Act forbids them from joining any activities that are deemed harmful to the university. They cannot collect money, publish or distribute printed materials, join any associations, or speak to the media without permission from university authorities. They can be prosecuted for all that and, if guilty, fined up to RM1,000 or jailed a maximum of six months, or both.

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) deplores the latest action by the university. CIJ believes that USM must recognise and respect Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The Universities and University Colleges Act is outdated legislation for a country that aspires to achieve developed status by the year 2020. CIJ reiterates that any punitive action against Ali over his website is tantamount to Internet censorship which contravenes the Bill of Guarantees set to protect Malaysia’s Multimedia Super Corridor project.