Another association of academics has come out in defence of UIA law professor Abdul Aziz, and called for his critics to engage in rational discourse about the controversy he has raised rather than levelling personal attacks against the academician.

NONE In a statement issued today, the Ikatan Ilmuan Nasional (‘Alliance of national scholars’, Ilmuan) expressed concern and was troubled “by the negative remarks and personal attacks against Abdul Aziz” ( left ) and urged all quarters to be accept the fact that the professor is well qualified and within his field of expertise to speak about the royalty and constitutional matters.

“Threats and personal attacks are inappropriate and unprofessional. If anyone disagrees with him, they should be engaging him in a rational and professional discourse,” said Ilmuan president Dr Mohd Fuad Mohd Salleh.

Abdul Aziz has been in the centre of polemics since he questioned Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s statement in support of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department’s (Jais) Aug 3 action against purported proselytisation during a dinner held at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC).

uia aziz bari protest 211011 Malay groups and politicians afterward accused him of violating the federal constitution’s provisions on the Malay rulers and urged the authorities to act against him.

Abdul Aziz’s university has issued him a show cause letter and suspended him from Oct 19 for allegedly jeopardising the interests of the university with his questioning of the sultan’s statement.

On Friday, hundreds of students gathered in front of the main mosque in UIA ( above ) calling for the university rector to retract the suspension.

NONE Earlier, however, Senator Ezam Mohd Noor ( in blue shirt, picture ) and Kulim Bandar Baru Zulkifli Noordin have accused Abdul Aziz of being “rude and insolent”, of sedition and for being linked to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, Bernama today reported Jaafar School Alumni president Syed Hussien Al-Habshee as comparing Abdul Aziz’s suspension by UIA to the sacking of the Selangor-government’s Universiti Selangor (Unisel) against three of its staff, and questioned the opposition’s ‘double standards’.

He said the management and rector of UIAM must be given a chance to resolve the matter and the opposition should refrain from making baseless allegations against the government.

"When the Selangor government sacked three Universiti Selangor (Unisel) staff, following which its vice-chancellor resigned we did not see any effort on the part of the opposition to defend their fate. Why are they acting like heroes only now," he said.

Syed Hussien also questioned the opposition's allegation that there was no academic freedom in the country when it was silent on the issue in the case of Unisel.

Syed Hussien advised Abdul Aziz to focus on his career as a constitutional law lecturer by publishing more research papers in international law journals.

"He need not voice his opinions at PAS assemblies or other opposition meetings but should concentrate on being an academician and leave politics to the politicians of the country," he added.

Mohd Fuad in his statement today, however, said as an academic renowned for his contribution to the academia, Aziz has the right to express his professional views freely and without prejudice as upheld by the notion of academic freedom.

“Academic freedom is a basic right of every academic, and must be respected and preserved,” he added, citing the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s ‘Recommendations Concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel’ of 1997.

“The recent provocative actions directed towards Prof Aziz shows a clear violation of the said articles,” Mohd Fuad said further.

“As we envision Malaysia to be a developed nation, may this nation be not left behind in its fundamentals of upholding the sovereignty of academic institutions and that of academic freedom.

“Let us be hopeful to shape a country that provides world class education; excellent in all its ways, yet has not sacrificed its soul to get there.

“Everybody must work together to educate Malaysians for Malaysia to be the hub for higher education at par with other world class universities.”