Come back once you’re cleared, varsity tells Adam Adli

Suspended student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim (pic) has been told to clear his name of the sedition charges against him before he can return to resume studies at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).

UPSI Deputy Vice-Chancellor Associate Professor Datuk Dr Junaidy Abu Bakar said this while defending the university's decision to suspend Adam indefinitely as "normal procedure".

"What we did by serving the indefinite suspension notice was right and normal procedure.

"We are doing this in Adam's best interest... we are merely assisting him and not plotting to kick him out of the institution," Junaidy told The Malaysian Insider today.

Adam, 23, revealed yesterday that UPSI had, in a letter signed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Zakaria Kasa, informed him of the extended suspension on grounds that he was involved in the on-going trial under the Sedition Act.

He said if university authorities continued to prevent his return to campus, he would further his education elsewhere.

But Junaidy argued that Adam's outside participation was getting in the way of his studies and as such it was "a cumbersome issue for the university".

He said that Adam was always being called by the police and the court over his politically-linked activities during the university sessions, and urged to sort out his issues with the authorities without affecting the institution.

Junaidy dismissed allegations that the decision to suspend Adam was politically motivated, as charged by the student activist yesterday.

"That is rubbish. We know what to do and there has been no such influence as claimed," he said, adding that the decision was the consensus of the university board.

"That is why this is an indefinite suspension. Once he is done with his cases, he can come back.

"We are academicians and we know our roles," said Junaidy.

Adam was charged with sedition in May this year after he questioned the results of the 13th general election during a forum on the May 13 incident. He had called on Malaysians to take to the streets to remove Barisan Nasional from Putrajaya.

Adam had alleged that the latest decision was illegal as under normal practice, such punishment only comes after an investigation or an internal inquiry.

He also lashed out at the university and the Education Ministry for their hypocritical attitude.

“When a student is active in social and political activities, our leaders tell us to concentrate on our studies. But now, they are not allowing me to continue with my studies," he said.

Adam was suspended for three semesters in January last year after replacing a flag bearing the image of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with a flag bearing the words “Kebebasan Akademik" (Academic Freedom), at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. – September 19, 2013.