A student group will protest during Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s visit to Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) tomorrow over law lecturer Abdul Aziz Bari’s suspension.
The Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) group said it will attempt to hand over a protest note to the premier in support of Abdul Aziz.
“We will seek the prime minister’s intervention for charges against Abdul Aziz to be lifted.
“We hope the premier responds to this issue and for him to compel the Higher Education Ministry to act firmly to ensure academic freedom,” said SMM president Ahmad Syukri Ab Razab.
Najib is scheduled to to attend the closing ceremony of the Prime Minister's Cup debate between several universities tomorrow at 8.30pm.
According to an Bernama update late this evening, the premier's speech will be read by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, signalling that the premier would not be present.
More demonstrations planned
Meanwhile, Ahmad Syukri said that the student group would organise another rally on the issue in November.
The demonstration is to be the climax of their ‘Solidarity for Academic Freedom’ campaign, he added.
“We are unyielding on this issue because it is possible for lecturers to be suspended in other campuses,” he said at a press conference in parliament today.
Earlier, he and several student body representatives had submitted a memorandum to the Higher Education Ministry in the same building.
Also present were delegates from SMM, Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam Universiti Malaya, Majlis Perwakilan Mahasiswa Nasional, Pro-Mahasiswa Nasional, Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia and Persatuan Pelajar Kebangsaan Islam Malaysia.
500 students to 'greet' Najib
A student leader contacted by Malaysiakini this evening said that the students would gather at the campus entrance at 7 pm.
This is because the prime minister is expected to arrive at 8pm for the closing ceremony of a debate competition.
The student, who refused to be named, said about 500 students from campuses throughout the Klang Valley, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, and Universiti Selangor, will be present to “greet” Najib.
Last Friday, an estimated 700 students staged a noisy protestdemanding that Abdul Aziz's suspension be rescinded.
Abdul Aziz was suspended on Oct 20. He has until tomorrow to respond to a show cause letter accusing him of disparaging the university in his public remarks.
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