Sacked International Islamic University (UIA) president Sanusi Junid found an unlikely ally in the form of DAP leader Lim Kit Siang today.

Lim lashed out at Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for Sanusi's abrupt sacking, ostensibly for quitting Umno.

dap education roundtable meeting 111006 lim kit siang The DAP MP for Ipoh Timor called the sacking, which was made known to Sanusi yesterday, as shocking and deplorable.

He also said that it was a testimony that Abdullah administration was not ready for "first-world infrastructure, first-world mentality" culture as propagated by the prime minister.

"The UIA termination letter dated June 2, but which Sanusi received only yesterday, did not give any reason for the abrupt sacking although his contract is not due to expire for another two years," said Lim in a statement today.

"It would appear that quitting Umno has become a proper reason for the sacking of administrators and academicians in Malaysian universities," he added.

Sanusi, a former cabinet minister, Kedah menteri besar and Umno secretary-general, had quit Umno together with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on May 19 as a protest against Abdullah's leadership.

"Shouldn't the authorities adopt a "hands-off" policy on the political inclinations of university administrators or academicians so long as they do not allow their political affiliations to intrude into their university duties?" asked Lim.

He also said that Abdullah needed to explain on the reasons for Sanusi's sacking from the UIA.

Never abused post

sanusi junid 050608 Yesterday Sanusi revealed that he had received a letter dated June 2 on his termination with immediate effect.

The letter, which was signed by UIA constitutional head Sultan Ahmad Shah, did not provide any reason for the abrupt termination.

"I have done nothing wrong and I have not used the post for my own political ends," Sanusi lamented in an 18-page statement.

He said that the contract for the university post, which pays a monthly allowance of RM5,000, was not due to expire for another two years.

Sanusi added that since he has close ties with the Pahang sultan, the termination could only come from the advice of prime minister Abdullah.

In an immediate reaction, Sanusi's mentor Mahathir, in expressing regret over the termination, also asked the government to spell out the reasons for the decision.

‘I hope the reasons for Sanusi's sacking in explained to the people. Don't misuse authority for self interest," he wrote in his blog yesterday.

He also noted that it looked as though Abdullah's government was under the impression that all government posts must be given to people who are loyal to Umno and its president, and to be withdrawn if the loyalty was no longer there.

Dr M not resigning from Petronas

Meanwhile, in a blog posting today, Mahathir vowed that he would not quit his Petronas advisor post as this is "not exclusive to Umno members".

"It is ridiculous if all advisorial appointments subject the appointee to saying only the things that please the government."

According to Mahathir, he had appointed former premier Hussein Onn as Petronas advisor following his resignation as the nation's leader.

"When Umno was made illegal and Umno Baru was formed, Tun Hussein remained outside the party but this did not affect his position in Petronas. He remained Petronas adviser until he passed away."

However, Mahathir said the government can remove him from the post "as it sees fit".