Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) will not take any action against its senior lecturer Jeniri Amir for commenting on Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's political future as it was his personal opinion.

Its vice-chancellor, Professor Khairuddin Abdul Hamid, said the
university would not prevent any of its academic staff from making statements as it was tantamount to limiting the intellectual discourse benefiting the academic world and society, at large.

"We would like to make it clear the statement by Dr Jeniri is purely his personal opinion on the subject matter.

"It does not represent, in any way, the opinion of the university," he said in a news conference at his home in Kuching today.

He was responding to a Bernama news analysis - following an announcement by the chief minister that he was willing to quit politics after 29 years - which prompted endless comments from politicians and academicians.

Jeniri, who is also political analyst, was quoted in the Bernama report that it was only natural for other leaders in the state to openly declare they needed Abdul Taib "as their political future depends on him".

"Everyone knows Taib is politically too powerful and nobody dares to ask him to step down," he had said.

In the report, Jeniri felt that the prime minister's 'heart-to-heart'
talk with Abdul Taib should be used as an avenue to tell the chief minister about the political situation on the ground.

Khairuddin said the Sarawak Goverment was supportive of Unimas, adding that its establishment was, without doubt, partly the idea and effort of the state leadership.

- Bernama