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press-st2Media statement

We, the undersigned Malaysian academics and researchers, as well as colleagues from other countries researching on Malaysia, wish to record our serious concern and objection to the recent actions taken against Professor Abdul Aziz Bari of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

Prof Aziz Bari is currently being investigated by the police under the Sedition Act 1948 and by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for a statement in an online news portal involving the Sultan of Selangor. He has since been suspended by his employer, IIUM.

According to a Bernama report on Oct 21, 2011, the Rector of IIUM Prof Zaleha Kamaruddin has stated that: "The university does not restrict any academic staff from giving statements but they must not be against the interests of the university." We are extremely perturbed by this statement as Prof Aziz Bari’s comment was related to his interpretation of the Malaysian Constitution, his area of expertise. He has not done anything to compromise or undermine the interests or integrity of IIUM.

As academics and researchers, we view the action taken by IIUM as a gross violation of Prof Aziz Bari's academic freedom as well as his right to free expression. As an academic, Prof Aziz Bari has the responsibility to use his expertise to enlighten the public on matters related to his field of interest and scholarship. In fact, Malaysia needs more scholars like him to give their expert views without fear or favour on issues of national concern.

Prof Aziz Bari's suggestion that a Ruler has acted beyond his Constitutional bounds is a legitimate one. There is no evidence that he has acted, overtly or by implication, to incite hatred against the Ruler. Our reading of the Sedition Act 1948 is that it validates any criticism of a Ruler if such criticism is intended to constructively show that the Ruler has erred.

The hallmark of any institution of higher learning is the celebration and promotion of intellectual freedom, autonomy and responsibility by its faculty and student body. The credibility of a university is undermined if its management does not value intellectual freedom of expression through the pursuit of open discussions, debates and dissenting opinions in a scholarly and civil environment.

The investigations on Prof Aziz Bari by the government and IIUM's decision to suspend him signal the further suppression of academic freedom in Malaysia, which has in fact long been curtailed by the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971.

To ensure a swift resolution of the selective persecution of Prof Aziz Bari and to undo the damage to IIUM’s reputation, we urge the responsible authorities to undertake the following remedial actions:

1. The IIUM to lift Prof Aziz Bari's suspension immediately;

2. The police to cease all investigations against Prof Aziz Bari under the Sedition Act 1948; and

3. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to cease all investigations against Prof Aziz Bari under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

In addition we call on the authorities to fully respect academic rights and freedom through the following measures:

1. The Sedition Act 1948 which has unacceptable potential for abuse against fundamental freedoms of expression to be repealed.

2. The Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 to be repealed and replaced by a University Charter that upholds academic freedom and campus democracy.

Endorsed by Universiti Malaya Academic Staff Union (PKAUM) and signed by:

  1. Dr Abdul Hamid Mat Sain
  2. Prof. Abdul Rahman Embong
  3. Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa
  4. Joseph Algaraj
  5. Assoc. Prof. Andrew Aeria
  6. Ang Hean Leng
  7. Dr Patricia Ang
  8. Dr. Awang Azman Awang Pawi
  9. Assoc. Prof Azizan Bahari
  10. Dr Azly Rahman
  11. Assoc. Prof. Azman Azwan Azmawati
  12. Assoc. Prof. Azmi Sharom
  13. Dr Azmil M. Tayeb
  14. Dr Sharon Bong
  15. Dr Chooi Beh
  16. Boon Kia Meng
  17. Dr Chan Chee Khoon
  18. Chang Teck Peng
  19. Dr Chee Heng Leng
  20. Prof. Chin Kenpa
  21. Chong Wu Ling
  22. Dr Chong Fah Hing
  23. Dr. Christopher Chong
  24. Dr Chong Kok Boon
  25. Chou Wen Loong
  26. Chung Lee Peng
  27. Dr Faisal Syam Abdol Hazis
  28. Dr Faizal Ali
  29. Dr Farish Ahmad Noor
  30. Prof. Fatimah Mohamed Arshad
  31. Assoc. Prof. Sharmani Patricia Gabriel
  32. Dr Oommen George
  33. Assoc. Prof. Goh Beng Lan
  34. Prof. Alberto Gomes
  35. Prof. Edmund Terence Gomez
  36. Prof. Andrew Harding
  37. Dr Hew Wai Weng
  38. Dr Denison Jayasooria
  39. Dr Jeniri Amir
  40. Dr K.J. John
  41. Prof. Andrew Kenyon
  42. Emeritus Prof. Clive Kessler
  43. Dr Khoo Gaik Cheng
  44. Eddin Khoo
  45. Koh Ea Boon
  46. Lai Wan Teng
  47. Dr Joanne Lim
  48. Dr Lee Hock Guan
  49. Dr Lee Hwok Aun
  50. Dr Julian C.H. Lee
  51. Leong Kar Yen
  52. Leong May San
  53. Pauline Leong
  54. Assoc. Prof. Lim Hong Hai
  55. Assoc. Prof. Lim Khay Thiong
  56. Prof. Lim Teck Ghee
  57. Prof. Francis K.W. Loh
  58. Greg Lopez
  59. Dr Mahyuddin Ahmad
  60. Maimuna Merican
  61. Dr Sumit K. Mandal
  62. Dahlia Martin
  63. Dr Maznah Mohamad
  64. Prof Dr Mohammad Yusoff Ismail
  65. Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin
  66. Assoc. Prof. Mohd Nordin Mohd Abdullah
  67. Dr Joel Moore
  68. Dr Muhammad Hamdi b Mahmood
  69. Dr Musa Nordin
  70. Assoc. Prof. Mustafa K. Anuar
  71. Dr Yaso Nadarajah
  72. Rose Nanju
  73. Assoc. Prof. Helen Nesadurai
  74. Dr Cecilia Ng
  75. Dr Nor Hayati Sa’at
  76. Dr Nor’azim Mohd Yunos
  77. Dr Noraida Endut
  78. Noor'ain Aini
  79. Assoc. Prof. Norani Othman
  80. Ng Boon Hooi
  81. Dr Ngoi Guat Peng
  82. Dr Nur Afifa Abdullah
  83. Dr Ong Kian Ming
  84. Dr Ooi Kee Beng
  85. Prof. Pan Kok Long
  86. Jeffrey Phang
  87. Prof. Maude Phipps
  88. Dr Phua Kai Lit
  89. Prof. Rosli Omar
  90. Dr Subramaniam Pillay
  91. Por Heong Hong
  92. Dr Mavis Puthucheary
  93. Dr Arnold Puyok
  94. Dr Rabaah Bt Tudin
  95. Prof. Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar
  96. Prof. Rashidah Shuib
  97. Assoc. Prof. Rashila Ramli
  98. Assoc. Prof. Rusli Ahmad
  99. Dr Rohaya Mohd Nor
  100. Dr Rohana Abdul Jalil
  101. Dr Marina Roseman
  102. Assoc. Prof. Rosli H Mahat
  103. Dr Rusaslina Idrus
  104. Dr Johan Saravanamuttu
  105. Saw Teck Chee
  106. Assoc. Prof. Shakila Abdul Manan
  107. Assoc. Prof. Edmund Sim
  108. Darshan Singh
  109. Dr Hari Singh
  110. Assoc. Prof. Siti Hawa Ali
  111. Dr Soon Chuan Yean
  112. Prof. Tan Sooi Beng
  113. Tan Lee Ooi
  114. Dr Taufiq Abdullah
  115. Prof. Tham Siew Yean
  116. Assoc. Prof. Tee Kim Tong
  117. Dr Helen Ting
  118. Dr Ting Su Hie
  119. Dr Toh Kin Woon
  120. Dr Adam Tyson
  121. Prof. Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda
  122. Prof. Wan Zawawi Ibrahim
  123. Wang Lay Kim
  124. Assoc. Prof. Bridget Welsh
  125. Dr Amanda Whiting
  126. Dr Diana Wong
  127. Dr Wong Chin Huat
  128. Wong Chip Choo
  129. Dr Yeoh Seng Guan
  130. Yong Kiat
  131. Assoc. Prof. Young Suan
  132. Assoc. Prof. Zaharom Nain

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