The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today dismissed an application by a Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI) student for a judicial review on his suspension by the university’s disciplinary committee.

In her judgment, Judge Zaleha Yusuf said the suspension imposed on Adam Adli Abdul Halim, 24, was justified.

“UPSI had testified that Adam Adli was given a chance to state his case or send a representative to the UPSI disciplinary committee hearing but he did neither... nor did he object to the proceeding.    

“He did not attend, even though he had been informed about it and sent a representative only to get the committee’s decision on his case,” she held.

She said Adam Adli’s affidavit-in-reply also did not question the respondent’s reason for suspending him.    

Adam Adli, a fifth semester student in English as a Second Language, filed the application on April 17, last year, naming UPSI, its disciplinary committee and the government as respondents.

On Jan 9, last year, he was suspended by the UPSI’s disciplinary committee for three semesters, which would end in September next year.    

On March 8, the same year, the appeal committee rejected his appeal against the suspension and affirmed the disciplinary committee’s order.

The applicant claimed he was suspended by the disciplinary committee because he had tarnished the image of the university and disturbed public order and security.

NONE Zaleha said Adam Adli’s action at the Putra World Trade Centre in December 2011 had attracted wide publicity. Being a student of UPSI, he had forcefully dragged the university into the issue and tarnished its image; thus, the university had the prerogative to take disciplinary action against him.

Zaleha said the amended Universities and University Colleges Act 2009 also gave authority to the UPSI disciplinary committee to conduct proceedings against students.

The judge, considering the applicant’s student status, did not impose costs but advised him to be respectful to leaders, regardless of their political affiliations.

Meanwhile, counsel Mohd Afiq Mohd Noor told reporters that he would file an appeal on the High Court’s decision.

- Bernama