Second Education Minister Idris has denied interference by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in the non-renewal of the contract of the dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FSSS) of Universiti Malaya, Prof Mohammed Redzuan Othman.

Idris said he believed there were 'outsiders' who deliberately drummed up the issue and incited people to resist government.

"For me, there is nothing unusual as the dean's contract was almost ending and certainly another dean will be appointed to replace him," he told reporters at the UM and University International Malaya-Wales (IUMW) breaking-of-the fast event in Kuala Lumpur today.

Idris (right) also questioned why there were no parties disputing the Selangor government's action in ousting the vice-chancellor of Universiti Selangor (Unisel) a few years ago.

"They sacked a vice-chancellor, but nobody created chaos, but when the dean whose contract is due to expire and was not extended, why do bloggers and the media want to write about it?" he said.

Also present was UM vice-chancellor, Prof Mohd Amin Jalaludin.

Idris stressed that it was a normal process to choose a new dean when the term of an existing dean was expiring.

The non-renewal of Redzuan' contract stirred controversy with some Pakatan Rakyat leaders criticising MOE's interference in the affairs of the university's administration.

Meanwhile, Mohd Amin said UM left it completely to the authorities the alleged involvement of one of its lecturer in militancy.

"The lecturer Mahmud Ahmad did not come to work for four weeks. We can take action in accordance to ordinary rules for absenteeism, but it depends on reasons and supporting evidence like medical certificate.

And for the alleged involvement in militant activity, we fully leave it to the authority for investigation," he said.

On Wednesday, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said Dr Mahmud, a lecturer at the the Islamic Studies Academy, UM, was one of five suspects being hunted by police for suspected involved in militant activities.

Dr Mahmud along with four other suspects are said to have left Malaysia and are now hiding in the southern Philippines.

- Bernama