Islamic NGO Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) has joined the chorus of consternation over the suspension of two students for organising a forum about the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Abim president Amidi Abd Manan said Universiti Islam Antarabangsa's (UIA) suspension of student leaders Hanif Mahpa dan Afiqah Zulkifli was an "insult" to the student's intellectual capabilities.

He added the punishments could potentially "destroy the good image and name of UIA".

"It is not just a punishment for breaking university rules, but also a punishment for a healthy way of thinking for the young generation, especially in the students' context," he said.

Amidi said in fact, students should receive intellectual training to arm them to think critically on viewpoints and information from various quarters.

The students were suspended for two semesters for organising the forum that featured PKR Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli.

Human rights group Suaram yesterday demanded the university revoke the suspensions.

In a separate statement, PKR vice president Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin also condemned the suspension as an embarrassment and said it went against UIA's own slogan "Garden of Knowledge and Virtue".

Shamsul, who was UIA's student representative council president in 1996, urged students at the university to voice out against the suspension.

"On behalf of PKR, I also demand UIA rector Zaleha Kamaruddin ( photo ) to cancel this decision.

"UIA should make the principles of academic freedom and justice a culture by promoting the tradition of dialogue, forum and other programmes that instills critical views and constructive arguments," he said in a statement today.