VOXPOP 'Is it Islamic to have your image on a party flag and then demand that people must respect and honour this ‘flag'?'

Adam Adli suspended for three semesters

Bender: Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student leader Adam Adli, they may have resorted to suspension as a way of saying that you have done something wrong.

But the public knows what you have done is far from wrong, not in absolute terms. Suspension means they absolve your right to study and finish your academic pursuit.

But compared to others, you have learnt more than your fair share of knowledge and you have gained invaluable insights into the reality of life.

That is something you simply cannot get from lectures. You may have to face hardships now (I believe a lot of people out there who will help you out) but you may also take comfort in knowing that the entire nation owe you a lesson which they cannot get, had you choose to keep only to your lectures.

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: Since when is taking down a party flag with its leader's face on it a major crime? The university should concern itself only with academic offences and crimes and not acts of protest or defiance.

Besides is it Islamic to have your image on a party flag and then demand that people must respect and honour this ‘flag'?

Apart from the national flag and the royal standard, other flags and banners are not protected under the law. So why is the university bending over backwards to accommodate Umno?

MalaysiaAustralia: Adam, sue the university and the committee members. Students, it's about time all of you stand up for justice.

Pemerhati: PM Najib Razak has just returned from South Africa where a young South African student activist, Steve Biko, who fought the evil apartheid regime, is remembered as a hero.

The not very dissimilar racist and corrupt Umno regime is now turning Adam Adli into a Malaysian hero.

Zz2XX: The desperate Umno regimen is trying to bully a poor student. Can we set a fund to help Adam take legal action to challenge the university's decision? I hope this can be done. Adam, I salute you.

Adam Adli, ‘syabas' (kudos) to you. You are the future of our next generation of young leaders. You made us feel proud of you all. Keep it up.

Ruben: Adam Ali expressed his views and used his democratic rights and freedom to express his views in a way that was not threatening, violent or resulted in any public disorder and you suspend him for that?

I admire him for showing leadership and courage. By suspending him, UPSI and the Higher Education Ministry is clearly sending out a message that unless your acts are pro-government, you had better watch out. Adam, we support you.

Artchan: When a university cannot differentiate a flag from a banner, we have a problem.

MB to meet Sultan on Friday over Hasan's post

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: I refer to the Federal Court decision in Anwar Ibrahim v Mahathir Mohamad. The prerogative to dismiss or remove a minister or member of the state's executive council lies with the PM or MB/CM.

The consent of the ruler is only a formality and the ruler must act on the advice of the PM or MB/CM. The ruler only needs to be informed of the decision to dismiss a minister or member of the exco.

There is also no need to issue any letter of dismissal but only a statement from the PM or MB/CM will suffice.

Once PAS has nominated its candidate for the exco position, the MB only needs to inform the ruler of the dismissal of Hasan Ali and the appointment of the new exco which will be formally consented to by the ruler.

Since Hasan is now partyless, he becomes an independent member of the Legislative Assembly and is no longer under the Pakatan Rakyat whip or a Pakatan member.

As such, the ruler has no power to insist that Hasan remains as an exco member. If the ruler does that, then the MB should seek an immediate dissolution of the legislative assembly.

Kgen: I hope the sultan won't dabble in politics. The advice of the MB with regards to exco appointments must be followed according to the constitution.

There is no leeway for the sultan to refuse. Royalty damage themselves in the eyes of the public if they play politics.

Baiyuensheng: Hasan, it is your recalcitrant attitude towards the leadership of PAS that has brought about your downfall. If you want to do your own thing and disregard the party's directions, then you should form your own party or try to become the president of PAS.

Kit P: Legally speaking, yes, the appointment of a new exco is made by the sultan, but he is required to act so on the advice of the government of the day - in practice, the menteri besar.

If the sultan refuses, then we will have a constitutional crisis in Selangor.

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