Who's "kurang ajar", Aziz Bari to sue Dr M, Zul Noordin and Utusan

Law professor Aziz Bari, who was suspended indefinitely by the International Islamic Univesity, has demanded apologies from former premier Mahathir Mohamad, Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Nordin and Umno-owned newspaper Utusan Malaysia.

All 3 parties had made various allegations against Aziz over the Selangor Sultan's controversial decision on the Jais-DUMC apostasy raid, with Mahathir going so far as to publicly call Aziz "kurang ajar" or rude

“We have received instruction from our client to send the demand as soon as possible,” Aziz's lawyer Hanipa Maidin told Malaysia Chronicle.

Fed-up with Umno's inability to advance beyond sex, racial and religious polemics

According to Hanipa, Aziz is also mulling action against Umno Senator Ezam Mohd Nor, whose statements to Utusan resulted in the professor being investigated by the police and Malaysian Commission for Multimedia and Communication.

Hanipa said the statements made by all the parties had tarnished Aziz's good reputation. Indeed, the constitutional law expert is a prominent member of civil society and his views and opinions are eagerly sought by the press whenever a complex issue crops.

In the Jais-DUMC issue, Aziz had described the Sultan's ruling as uncoventional and inconsistent. He also said there was nothing wrong for the people to criticise the Royalty. That prompted Umno, which traditionally uses the Royalty to drum up political support for their party, to attack Aziz.

Trying to stir up support in the vein of the hugely successful July 9 Bersih rally for free and fair election, Umno had also organised a Gathering of One Million Muslims at the Stadium Merdeka on Saturday.

But less than 5,000 people turned up, underscoring Umno's increasing inability to influence the Malays, their core electorate which has grown fed-up with the party's inability to advance beyond sex, racial and religious polemics.

Malaysia Chronicle