Suspension case: Ball is in Zaleha's court
YOURSAY 'Why is only the deputy minister talking? Where are the ministers for higher education as well as education aka DPM?'
Deputy minister wants Aziz Bari's suspension lifted
Onyourtoes:
I just want to say this: when actions are based on shaky and unjustifiable grounds, they are bound to have inconsistencies and contradictions. My question is why no consultation was made before the show-cause letter to law professor Abdul Aziz Bari was issued.
Right now, frankly I do not know whether Deputy Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah's reaction was governed by his genuine concern for fairness, academic freedom, justice and democracy or that it is more due to the wide and spontaneous protests he saw in this case.
If protests have not been forthcoming, would the deputy minister made those conciliatory comments? I doubt it, though I may be wrong. Seriously, do you believe the university's rector acted alone and without consultation with anyone?
We are one of the few countries with a separate and distinct Ministry of Higher Education. Surely those mandarins there can't be laying eggs all day. Please don't insult the rector. It could be that the genuine authority is having cold feet.
Fillio: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) rector Zaleha Kamaruddin should have learnt from the fallout of the recent Bersih demonstration.
With hindsight, it would be wiser to issue a permit for Bersih to demonstrate in a stadium. It's high time that we go back and digest fully the saying "that common sense is no more common" even amongst professors who are entrusted to mould pupils into responsible citizens.
Faz: Saifuddin's action is at best an after-thought, but still a breath of fresh air. The problem is very deep-rooted, as Umno had planted their second liners and layers of other liners deep inside every government organisation, who will do the party's bidding.
Look at the civil servants now at Kedah, Selangor, Perak and Penang state governments who become a government within a government in these opposition-held states. Kelantan had eventually resolved it, but only after winning five consecutive elections.
Anonymous: This deputy minister is a fine example of how modern-day Malaysia should be shaped. He is reasonable, competent, and more sober than his colleagues in the cabinet.
This is what you call true grit and a shining example of a Muslim true to the teachings of the Prophet. Malaysia salutes you, sir.
Karma: If not because of the protest of the undergraduates, there will be no such quick response from the deputy minister. The issue had threatened their largest perceived vote-bank - the Malay youth. A retaliation from them can turn the table on Umno.
Amirul Shah: I hope Saifuddin Abdullah will someday be our PM as he gives this nation hope that there are still some good people in Umno.
Sarawakian_3ff9: Saifuddin's statement is refreshing coming from an Umno man. Why can't other Umno or BN ministers be progressive in their thinking like him, instead of wasting their time on gutter politics?
Had they all been more concerned with the state of the country and the people's welfare, there would be no need to wallow in sex and lies in order to sway the rakyat support. Syabas to the deputy minister of higher education.
Artchan: For what it is worth, this started because the sultan came out with a decree that was neither here or there.
Lim Chong Leong: Why is only the deputy minister talking? Where are the ministers for higher education as well as education aka DPM? Where too is the PM because this involves the fundamental freedom of academics and goes against his ‘transformasi' agenda.
The high-powered ministers seem to think they can just let their deputies take the heat and they can avoid taking a stand whenever there is a controversy that is stoked by their party in the first place. By this, they are shirking their ministerial responsibilities.
Abasir: Zaleha is merely a symptom of the corruption that has been foisted on all our institutions by Umno. Removing her from office will certainly address the symptom; however, for a complete cure, the root cause has to be addressed.
But given its unabated cancerous growth over the last 50 years, there is little chance of success. All our institutions, without exception, are terminal. Saifuddin's outrage is simply too little, too late.
SMC77: Zaleha, I am glad that you have dug your own grave by taking orders from your political masters.
All other civil servants should take note that BN politicians are best in backstabbing you, especially when you have done a good job to be their lapdog and once your value has diminished to zero, you will be shipped out at light speed.
Multi Racial: Zaleha is the product of Umno's five-decade rule. Removing such people from the universities and replace them with real educationists will certainly be the first step to our improvement.
Aziz Bari, on the other hand, is the modern Malaysian we like to see more - objective and having the courage to speak openly without fear or favour.
But this is just a small step to reformation of the country. To trigger a major change, we have to use our vote wisely to put the right people into power.
YF: Why has Umno remained silent until after the protest was held? Wasn't it Umno senator Ezam Mohd Nor who started the attack on Aziz?
It goes to show that Umno is truly wetting their pants when they saw the size of the crowd at the UIA protest. Now they have to rework their plan to win back these students.
The Umno-instigated suspension of Aziz has indeed backfired on Umno.
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