MASZLEE Malik must quit as the International Islamic University of Malaysia president. That is the only demand student activists have when they meet the education minister at the centre of the controversial appointment to the university’s top job.

“We will insist that we hear directly from him that he will step down as IIUM president,” said Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi, the spokesman for the group.

“We also want him to hear our reasons for protesting against any political appointment in universities,” Asheeq told The Malaysian Insight.

Several student groups have submitted requests to meet Maszlee prior to the announcement of his appointment but did not receive any response, which was the reason they decided to organise the sit-in at his office in Putrajaya, he said.

They wanted to be heard.

Representatives from several student groups, such as the Persatuan Kebangsaan Islam Malaysia (PKPIM), Pemuda Sosialis, Demokrat Universiti Malaya (UM), Persatuan Belia Baharu Universiti Malaya (Umany) and Mahasiswa Keadilan, have met and agreed on the agenda for today’s talks.

On Monday, Maszlee reiterated his commitment to resolving the controversy arising from his appointment as IIUM president.

He pledged to keep an open-door policy and protect the university’s autonomy and freedom of speech.

IIUM staff and students have welcomed Maszlee’s appointment as its seventh president. The university’s corporate communications department said that the management viewed Maszlee as an ideal candidate as he was a former IIUM lecturer.

The appointment, however, was criticised by both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan parties, which said it went against the PH manifesto.

Defending the appointment, Maszlee said the government would save taxpayers’ money if he took up the job because the education minister would not receive a single sen as IIUM president.

“If others become the president, they will receive allowances and a salary. By having the education minister as the president, we can save nearly half a million ringgit,” Maszlee said.

Asheeq told The Malaysian Insight that today’s meeting venue, which was changed from Maszlee’s office to a restaurant, was “inappropriate” and that the activists will insist that it be held at a more formal setting.

The group is insisting on holding the meeting at Universiti Malaya.

“This is a national issue. The meeting in a restaurant is inappropriate,” said the final-year law student at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Asheeq and Siti Nurizzah Mohamad Tazali were detained by police on Saturday after they refused to disperse from the main gate of the ministry in Putrajaya.

The 23-year-olds were part of a group of students protesting against Maszlee’s appointment, demanding that he relinquish his role.

The duo were released after being detained for close to six hours at the Putrajaya police headquarters. – September 12, 2018.