After being issued a show-cause letter, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) law professor Abdul Aziz Bari has now been suspended from his lecturing duties.

Malaysiakini understands that the matter was contained in a notice issued to the academician from the university's legal department.

His suspension is with full pay, and takes effect for an indefinite period.

NONE It is understood that Aziz ( left ) is no longer allowed to enter his office at the university's Gombak campus after he was required to surrender his access card to the administration.

Aziz's suspension from UIA which he has served for 22 years, is expected to affect some 100 of his students ranging from degree to PhD students.

According to a source, Aziz is accused of "making statements that run contrary to the interest of the university" as stated in the show-cause letter issued to him.

He must furnish the university's administration with an answer by Oct 25.

In an immediate response, Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said that he has sought a report from the university on the matter as "the suspension raises questions"

The Temerloh MP, who admitted to be "good friend" of the professor's, also gave the green light for students to express support for the latter.

"I'm disturbed and saddened. I have asked (UIA) for a written report. I people or students want to support (Abdul) Aziz, it is their right," he said on microblogging site Twitter . 

Futile attempts

Attempts by Malaysiakini to contact the administration at UIA for comments have been futile. When contacted, Abdul Aziz declined to comment.

However, Malay daily Berita Harian in its report today, quoted UIA rector Zaleha Kamaruddin - a law professor herself - confirming that the show-cause letter was issued yesterday.

Aziz was yesterday quizzed by the police under the Sedition Act over his comments made in reaction to the Selangor sultan's decree regarding the recent Jais search at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church in Petaling Jaya.

In his comments published in Malaysiakini , Aziz said the Selangor sultan had a right to intervene but it had to be in line with Islam.

Aziz was also questioned by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on Monday.

He later defended his statement, stating that the sultan was not immune to criticism so long as he did not insult His Majesty and did not advocate the abolition of the royal institution.

The MCMC and police have also quizzed a Malaysiakini journalist and editor yesterday and the questioning is continuing today.

Increasing support

NONE A few hours after news broke out on Aziz's suspension, PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin called for UIA alumni to assemble at the university's Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque tomorrow after Friday prayers in protest against the "unilateral" decision against the law lecturer.

Shamsul, a graduate of UIA and now a practising lawyer, said the protest was being held "in solidarity" with Aziz.

In the meantime, more than 3,100 of Aziz's supporters have endorsed the Kami Bantah Penggantungan Dr Aziz Bari (We protest Dr Aziz Bari's suspension) Facebook page created earlier this morning.

Another Facebook page, '10,000 Mahasiswa Menyokong Penuh Profesor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari' (10,000 students fully support Professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari) has to date attracted more than 4,000 supporters.

Explain why disputed sultan

According to Bernama later today, the university has given the  lecturer an opportunity to explain why he disputed the Selangor sultan's stand on the check by Jais on a premises belonging to the church.

The UIA staff disciplinary board secretariat will evaluate whether  Aziz's statement contravened the university's rules, said public relations office in a statement today.

It said the secretariat was gathering detailed information on the issue emanated from Aziz's statement.

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