Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been barred again from addressing university students, this time by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) where he is scheduled to speak at a faculty dinner tomorrow.
Describing the university administration’s decision to ban Anwar as “unprofessional”, Keadilan Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said what was shocking was that the federal police was also believed to be involved to make sure the opposition leader does not address the students there tomorrow.
"This is not the first time this is happening to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim since he was sacked from the government.
"What is ironic is that world renowned institutions like Oxford University, Georgetown University and Stanford University had not only allowed him to speak, but had also invited him as a visiting lecturer," Nik Nazmi said in a statement today.
On October 27, Anwar was barred from speaking at Universiti Malaya, at the event "40 years: from UM to prison" organised by the UM Undergraduates' Association (PMUM) on the eve of his sodomy appeal at the Federal Court.
He, however, did address a 2,000-strong crowd at his alma mater after several hundred people forced open the university's main gate at its Kuala Lumpur/Bangsar entrance and marched onto the campus grounds.
Nik Nazmi said the action by the administrators of certain local universities proved that they succumbed to narrow-minded politics and were bowing to pressure and making decisions along political lines.
He said that it was unfortunate that these administrators failed to uphold academic freedom and to acknowledge that all elected representatives – both at federal and state level – were elected by the majority in their respective areas and as such, formed part of the legislative.
"Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is not only a member of Parliament, but is also the opposition leader at the Dewan Rakyat.
"He is also a former deputy prime minister and a former finance minister with an excellent track record," the youth chief said, adding that Anwar was also a former president at IIUM.
He urged the university's administration to act professionally and not to bow to pressure in upholding the good name of IIUM.
- TMI
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.