The two ministers - whose threats led to the shelving of an international conference on Islamic syariah law - should apologise to the paper presenters who have withdrawn their participation for fear of losing their jobs.

Opposition parties, Parti Keadilan Nasional and Parti Rakyat Malaysia, described the threats by the duo - Deputy Education Minister Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin ( photo, right ) and Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin ( photo, left ) - as "shameful".

Nine lecturers from three local educational institutions - International Islamic University, International Institute on Islamic Thought and Civilisation, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia - withdrew as speakers at the conference after being threatened with expulsion by their superiors.

The lecturers were warned that they would face severe action, including dismissal, if they attend the event.

A total of 12 speakers had been invited by the conference organiser - Centre for Studies in Modernity and Civil Society - to discuss, among others, the Islamic syariah law and the role of non-Muslims in an Islamic state.

Seminar 'backed' by PAS

The ministers had also claimed the international seminar was backed by Muslim-based opposition party PAS.

Party chiefs, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Dr Syed Husin Ali, regretted the shelving of the seminar themed 'Syariah, Modernity and Change' in a statement released yesterday.

They said the seminar, originally scheduled for next week, sought to expand intellectual discourse among local and international academics and researchers.

"What rules or laws did they (speakers) violate? Or is the attack merely because a PAS leader was invited to open it?" they asked in the joint statement.

"How many conferences and seminars on culture, development, basic rights and others have been opened by the prime minister and other ministers?"

'Laws of the jungle'

Wan Azizah and Syed Husin said both deputy ministers must also apologise to the seminar organiser, Cesmacs.

The centre, described as an independent, non-partisan and professional think-tank, has denied claims of an opposition-sponsored agenda.

Wan Azizah and Syed Husin said such emotional actions of the two deputy ministers which is "based on the laws of the jungle" would serve to kill off the desire by Malaysians to seek knowledge.

They said that educational institutions should encourage a free and open environment which encourage the pursuit of knowledge.

"(The threats by the ministers) will create fear among academics to tell the truth, thus the decline in the quality of local researchers is not surprising."