KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 ― Three students of the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) could end up getting booted out of their varsity if they are found guilty of taking part in a public event without approval from the university administration.

Student leaders Abdul Malik Abdul Razak, Muhammad Muhajid Sulaiman and Muna 'Adila Che Rime have been accused of breaching the university's Student Discipline Rules 2004 by attending the “Jelajah Mahasiswa, Bebaskan Universiti, Kerajaan Mahasiswa” public talk on varsity grounds.

The event was held at the junction leading to IIUM's main gate last November 7, less than two weeks after University of Malaya (UM) students came out in droves to attend a rally in support of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on their own varsity grounds on October 27.

The three are scheduled to attend a mention of their case before the university's court at 2.30pm today.

Azzan Aznan, chairman of We Unite for Islam (WUFI) which organised the IIUM event,  said there are four possible penalties that could be imposed on the three ― a fine, community service, suspension or expulsion.

“However, based on precedents set by other cases before this, the expected punishment would be suspension,” Azzan said when contacted.

Azzan said of the three, Muhammad Mujahid is currently serving a one semester suspension for bringing shame to the university by attending the Anwar rally at UM.

Abdul Malik, meanwhile, has since completed his studies and is set to graduate this October while Muna 'Adila has less than a month remaining to her final semester.

Azzan said WUFI views the charges against the three seriously, claiming that it is an overt attempt at silencing dissent among university students.

“This is surely a political manoeuvre to deliberately punish student activists with the aim of weakening their movement and ideals. But we are confident that this will only strengthen our resolve to continue speaking out,” he said in an earlier statement.