Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak is prepared to explain himself to PAS on the suspension of five students at the state-owned Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin).

"I'm ready to give a detailed explanation on the issue in the coming PAS central working committee meeting," Azizan is quoted as saying in today's Utusan Malaysia.

penang kedah timber logging azizan abdul razak 310708 03The Kedah PAS commissioner, whose decision to suspend the five Kuin students has sparked outrage among his Pakatan colleagues, said his support was growing.

He believes the PAS central leadership and its state committee are behind of him and his leadership in Kedah "is not threatened".

"Who is right, me or them?" the Umno-owned daily quotes Azizan as saying.

PAS is scheduled to hold its central working committee meeting on Feb 12.

Meanwhile, the New Straits Times today says Azizan slammed PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan and PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad for "jumping the gun".

Azizan is quoted as saying the three were quick in blaming him before checking the facts of the case.

He said the students were suspended in accordance with the Private Higher Education Institute Act 1996 (Act 555), not under the Unversities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) as reported.

This higher education law and the Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976 (Act 174) are laws similar to the UUCA, but tailored for private universities and institutions of higher learning.

Last Thursday, former Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) lecturer Abdul Aziz Bari called on Azizan to join the BN for his pro-UUCA stance.

PKR's Nik Nazmi has also expressed regret over Azizan's decision and has called on Pakatan to prevent a repeat of such an incident.

Students: Azizan trying to divert varsity law issue