A student group is accusing Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak of trying to divert the the row over the suspension of five students from a state-owned college and to justify "injustices" against them.

"The menteri besar's latest statement on the suspension of the Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) students is seen as his attempt to divert the issue and endorse the injustices against them by the college," Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) chairman Ahmad Syukri Ab Razab said today.

penang kedah timber logging azizan abdul razak 310708 01 Yesterday, Azizan (left) told Malay daily Sinar Harian that the five students were suspended under the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (Act 555), which is a " different law , even though they are almost the same".

"I hope after this, no party will question the decision," Azizan was quoted as saying.

The menteri besar also said that Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto Buku Jingga only pledged to uphold students' rights in participating in politics and freedom of association.

"But if there are students out there to create chaos and disrupt public order, we must prevent it," he told Sinar Harian .

'Tackle the core issue of repressive laws'

In his statement, Ahmad Syukri said Azizan should tackle the core issue of invoking repressive laws and not hide behind the names of laws.

"We have long said that KUIN is regulated under Act 555, a law which shares ‘the same essence' of Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).

"If UUCA is deemed repressive and worth to be abolished, then those similar laws should be rejected as well," Ahmad Syukri added.

He said Section 47 of Act 555 was similar to Sections 3, 15 and 16 of UUCA in curtailing students' involvement in politics.

He said the Kedah PAS commissioner had also been avoiding questions on whether his government would reject UUCA.

"If he previously said Buku Jingga is not the Quran and need not to be followed in entirety, does it mean now he is ready to accept the Buku Jingga pledge to abolish the UUCA?"

"If he is rejecting UUCA, why not other similar laws?" Ahmad Syukri argued.

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