A motion to debate the controversial suspension of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA)'s law professor Abdul Aziz Bari was rejected by the Dewan Rakyat speaker in his chambers today.

NONE Salahuddin Ayub ( right ), the PAS parliamentarian for Kubang Kerian who had filed the motion last week, said Pandikar Amin Mulia rejected the motion filed under Standing Order 18(1) as "not an urgent matter".

"Aziz Bari is a respected professor and academician. Whatever his comments are, they are based on his knowledge of the constitution," Salahuddin told a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

"When he provided his comments on the role of the monarchy, he based it on the constitution. In the past, there  have been far more uncouth comments by leaders."

“It is an important matter, as he is an expert in his field, and now he is being treated as a criminal as he is not even allowed to enter the campus grounds,” added Salahuddin.

Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor), who was also present, rebuked the move by the university which has not just affected the professor but shortchanged the students.

“The students are about to sit for the examinations... you can’t just change professors as you wish, they are used to their teaching style and to do it at this juncture it is very irresponsible,” said Dzulkefly.

He pointed that instead of promoting intellectual freedom, the government was curtailing it.

azlan Abdul Aziz was suspended for seven days from Oct 19 for allegedly questioning the sultan of Selangor’s pronouncement on the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) inspection at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church on Aug 3.

The lecturer, whose expertise is on the constitution, had said that the sultan’s intervention in such issues was uncommon.

 

The university explained last week that the suspension from work for seven days was not to penalise Aziz Bari, while he replies to a show-cause letter issued to him.

UIA rector Zaleha Kamarudin said the suspension was to allow for a detailed investigation to be carried out under Regulation 15 of the University Staff Discipline Regulations.

Memo to be submitted to Najib

Meanwhile, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) in a separate press conference, said that they will submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak when he visits UIA tomorrow. 

SMM chairperson Ahmad Syukri Abdul Razab said that the student group is not satisfied and is disappointed that Najib has not come out with any statements in support of academic freedom.

“The failure of Najib to support academic freedom may bring repercussions in the next general election,” said Ahmad Syukri.

He said that the movement will be hosting another round of protests tomorrow night. SMM will also organise a campaign through roadshows, public forum and ceramahs (public lecture) in the near future to demand academic freedom.

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