A talk by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad organised by Universiti Malaya students, scheduled on campus this Friday has been cancelled.

This was after Universiti Malaya Student Council (MPPUM) withdrew from organising the event, Universiti Malaya Muslim Students Association (PMIUM) exco member Suhail Wan Anwar said.

“We received a call from Mahathir’s aide to say that MPPUM contacted them to cancel the programme, without any discussion with us as co-organisers.

“They then made the cowardly act of relinquishing responsibility by withdrawing as organiser,” Suhail said in a Facebook posting.

The talk on Vision 2020 was co-organised by MPPUM, PMIUM and Universiti Malaya Kedah Students Association (Permadah).

In a separate Facebook post, MPPUM member Mohamad Adham Kamarulzaman said MPPUM was following Permadah’s lead.

“Following Permadah’s lead as main organiser, we regret to inform that MPPUM, too, withdraws as organiser of the programme with Dr Mahathir,” he said.

This comes after scheduled events featuring top debater and leader of youth group Challenger Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman at public universities were cancelled .

Syed Saddiq claimed the organisers were pressured by Higher Education Ministry, but minister Idris Jusoh said the universities had exercised their autonomy.

Syed Saddiq and Mahathir are among 45 signatories of the Citizens’ Declaration, which among others calls for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s resignation.