Wong Teck Chi and Syed Jaymal Zahiid
Sep 22, 07 2:10pm
Yee Yang Yang, 19, a first-year student in Universiti Putra Malaysia
(UPM), is a lanky soft-spoken Chinese boy who hails from Tawau, a
small town in Sabah.
In a recent interview with Malaysiakini, Yee related his feelings
over the media coverage he received following a tussle between him
and UPM security authorities who confiscated his belongings.
In his earlier teenage years, he has always viewed Peninsular
Malaysia as a place of dreams - dreams that reflected civilisation,
intellectuality and creativity.
"It was much more chaotic back at home. Security is such an issue
there because of the heavy presence of illegal immigrants," said Yee,
referring to his hometown.
"I have always viewed universities as a 'paradise'. This perception
was imbued in me by my sister," he said.
'I'm a nobody'
However, Yee said that his indulgence in his self-concocted ideals
ended prematurely after only three months in UPM.
His dreams of finding paradise in university were crushed by a
reality he had never expected.
Yee told Malaysiakini that until today, he has no idea as to why he
was subjected to such treatment by the university authorities.
Yee, admitting his fear, is clueless on why he was chosen as the target.
"I'm only a first-year student. I am a nobody. I don't know why they
targeted me," he said.
Yee also explained that things do not look good for him back at Tawau.
"Sabah dailies, with no knowledge of campus elections, has higlighted
my name in the negative manner.
"This has led to family members and neighbours pressuring my parents
for answers and asked if I have offended any particular race," he said
Fortunately, he said, his family had a ready answer - a simple 'no'.
Yee also related how his mother had not been able to sleep, and how
the family had instructed his sister to return home if the situations
gets any worse. Yee's sister is also a university student in the
peninsula.
"She's (Yee's mother) worried that I will be suspended and persecuted
by the campus authorities because the vice-chancellor had said I have
committed various offences. My mother even asked if I had
pornographic materials in my laptop," said a worried Yee.
Belongings not returned
Yee is also very grateful to his family members who have displayed
nothing less than support for their only son.
Yee's sister, never lacking optimism, had told him that she would
write a letter of complaint to the university though it is uncertain
as to how such a move will deter the VC from penalising Yee.
"They (Yee's family) said I must fight for my rights and that I need
not fear if I am not guilty," Yee said with determination.
"Before I came to UPM, my parents told me to make friends with not
just students, but also with people outside university, so I will be
wiser and not ignorant of the society I am living in," he added.
Yee's case is currently under investigation by UPM authorities and
they have yet to return Yee's belongings.
The Bar Council Human Rights Committee, which is of the view that
Yee's case was a gross violation of his basic human rights, has
promised to aid Yee in any way possible.
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