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UIA rector's lame excuse for suspension
Published:  Oct 22, 2011 10:26 AM
Updated: 2:28 AM

YOURSAY 'Malaysians respect the rulers and see the rulers as playing a vital balancing role. And they have no difficulty with what Aziz Bari said.'

Lawyers, academicians stand up for Aziz Bari

your say David Dass: It is significant that the three constitutional lawyers most frequently quoted by the press over constitutional issues are academics.

Malaysia has grown more confident of itself. Democracy has taken root. We have made the transition from feudal society to parliamentary democracy boldly and confidently.

Thanks to our first three prime minsters who were all lawyers. The federal constitution is our supreme law and it balances the rights of all our citizens - recognising the special place of Islam and protecting Malays from being swamped by others.

We chose not to go the way of an Islamic state as suggested by the Pakistani member of the Reid Commission. And wisely too. All that we need do is look at Pakistan and other countries where religion and state become one.

We also chose not to go the way of India as far as royalty is concerned. India had about 600 royal houses at Independence. On Independence day, they were pensioned off and in 1973 their pensions were removed.

Malaysia retained its rulers and made Malaysia a constitutional monarchy and formulated for them a role in the legislative process and in government. The rulers play a very important role in the scheme of things.

Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) law professor Abdul Aziz Bari gave the impression that he respected the rulers and their role and simply said that the rulers could be criticised over the performance of their constitutional duties. He was careful to state that he was not asking people to be discourteous to the rulers nor was he calling for their removal.

Malaysians respect the rulers and see the rulers as playing a vital balancing role in the country and in so doing ensuring stability. And they have no difficulty with what Aziz Bari said.

RR: As a senior citizen, I appalled by this rash decision to suspend a professor for making comments related to his job, that is, teaching the students to think logically and rightly.

The teachers, especially the professors, should create thinking graduates, and they should enjoy this latitude on freedom of expression.

Quigonbond: "Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah had also expressed dismay over UIA's action... ‘I am disturbed and saddened by the case... I may not agree with everything (Abdul Aziz) says and if he is wrong, then he should be punished'."

Punished? Perhaps under the Sedition Act? It may sound nice for Saifuddin to show concern, but his objective is no different from the Umno mentality. Anyone who disagrees with Umno ought to be punished.

He is not much better than those in UIA who have moved for the suspension.

Democracy: The university's excuse that Abdul Aziz's statement "went against its interests and tarnished its name" is a lame excuse for suspension.

The rector should be suspended instead as by this action, she has tarnished the name of the university as an institution of knowledge.

Geronimo: One day, a learned man in a university told his government that the world was round and not flat. The government shouted back at him, "Are you mad?" He was then immediately suspended as a lecturer for fear that he may corrupt the minds of the students.

Lo and behold, much research was made, and the world was found to be indeed round. Now we know who is the retard.

Ksn: It is a great start that lawyers and academics stand up for Prof Aziz. But that is not enough. The whole country must stand up for Aziz for the country's sake and its future.

We should not, and must not, allow the situation in the country - the blatant abuse of power - to reach Middle East proportions with all its dire consequences.

Pressure mounts on UIA rector

Dr Mohamed Zain: Such an action by UIA rector Zaleha Kamaruddin demonstrates her incompetency and ignorance of the role of academics in education and nation building. It is truly appalling that as a head of an international university, she has failed to understand to concept of academic freedom.

If she had understood it, she would not have let herself be influenced by external parties.

Lexicon: Well done, PKA-UIAM (Persatuan Kakitangan Akademik Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia) and Suaram, for speaking up for academic independence. Zaleha, go through due process, do your investigation, and then exonerate Prof Aziz unreservedly.

If you follow your conscience and reinstate him, UIA will grow in stature. If you do not, UIA will never recover from this blow and you will be remembered as the rector who destroyed UIA's reputation.

Democrat 53: From the answers Zaleha has given, you can judge the lack of sincerity in her statement. When you have universities filled by such low-level characters, what kind of quality can you expect.

At least now the academic staff have spoken, albeit a little late. With these kind of actions, Pakatan Rakyat doesn't have to excel to get the votes.

Rubystar_4037: Prof Zaleha, I think you are a sensible person but now you are caught between a rock and a hard place because you do the bidding of your political master, which is as clear as daylight.

You issued a show-clause letter to Prof Aziz, then suspend him and bar him from all access to UIA. Now you are on a fact-finding mission to determine the truth and quote some ‘ayat-ayat' from a ‘sura' in the Holy Quran.

Your political masters will soon distance themselves from you, the sultan will not come to your rescue and all your colleagues and NGOs are already condemning you for such high-handedness.

Perhaps Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin may come to your rescue by twittering about it, as he had twittered on Lim Guan Eng's son.

Arbeena: There is no pressure on the UIA rector. It is Malaysiakini that wants to create an environment of pressure in the campus. The student union there is under the influence of Pakatan.

 


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