Suddenly, this letter from Malaysian student department (MSD) makes absolute sense. It's not a "re-emphasization" of a policy. Instead, it's simply done in the light that Anwar Ibrahim is coming to Michigan.

Anwar Ibrahim (tag), as I have found out, will be giving a lecture at the University of Michigan this week. It should be interesting to know what he has to say, notwithstanding that I don't fully trust him.

Most interesting is, a few people inside the Malaysian students' association at Michigan are advicing Malaysians at Michigan of the possible difficulties that may arise if any of Malaysian student attend the lecture. Too bad to see people are being coerced by irresponsible few.

Personally, I don't sympathize with Anwar's political ambition but MSD's coersion is an affront to civil rights. If I were still a student there, I would have reported this infringement of rights to relevant university authority and the Michigan Student Assembly. In fact, I think I'll zap a few mails to several students' rep in the assembly.

It will be hilarious to see how the Malaysian ruling party's political inflexibility will measure up against American Michigander Berkeley of the Midwest People's Republic of Ann Arborite civil consciousness.

And pity, I graduated a few months too early. But I trust Michigan ITD will record the lecture and post it few days later on the web.