Universiti Malaya (UM) said the circular banning staff from organising any politically-related activities, whether inside or outside the country, only serves as a "friendly reminder".

According to the UM international and corporate relations office's press statement, the ban is not a new regulation as such prohibition is already in force in all statutory bodies.

"The letter issued by UM is just a friendly reminder to all UM staff.

"It is not something new and in fact, it has been put into use by all statutory bodies," read the press statement.

When Malaysiakini visited the campus today, it failed to obtain further explanation as both UM vice-chancellor Mohd Amin Jalaludin and registrar Yusoff Musa had matters to attend to outside.

Yesterday, a photo of the said circular was uploaded by UM senior economics lecturer Lee Hwok Aun.

The letter, sent to all university staff by Yusoff, states that the UM administration henceforth bans all staff from organising political activities, including those “on study leave, vacation leave or attending seminars or workshops inside or outside the country”.

Nonetheless, the Universiti Malaya Academic Staff Union (PKAUM) had vowed to oppose the university’s ban as it contravenes the federal constitution’s guarantees of freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

Meanwhile, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in a statement today said that the university’s decision to ban its staff from organising any political activities was an “attack on academic freedom” and will “curtail the progress of the university”.

Kok ( right ) said the move will also cause UM’s international image to take a further dive after it made itself an “international laughing stock” for banning opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim from attending  a talk organised by Universiti Malaya’s Student Council.

“It is obvious that the UM administration is not prepared to admit and learn from its previous mistakes. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that it just does not care about its image at all,” she said.

The DAP parliamentarian also said that the new move against the staff was proof that UM was not committed to an important foundation of any university, which is academic freedom.

“Without upholding the principle of academic freedom, there is no way UM or any Malaysian university can play the role as the critic and conscience of society.

“UM must stop embarrassing itself with laughable decisions and arguments. It must rescind all decisions which can curtail the progress of the university,” she said.