UIA out to embarrass me, says Aziz Bari...

Constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari claims Universiti Islam Antarabangsa’s (UIA) public announcement today that his ‘professor’ title will be dropped is an attempt to embarrass him.

“I feel ashamed and saddened by UIA’s attitude, it is apparent that it is being made a tool of others,” he said in a statement to Malaysiakini.

He said that UIA’s comments showed it was ignorant of the relationship between the ‘professor’ title and knowledge.

“The fact is many retired professors, even though they are not given the ‘emeritus’ title, are still addressed as ‘professor’ because people are confident of and respect their knowledge.

“Many professors have retired from UIA, not one has been attacked by UIA like I am being attacked now. Is UIA following Umno’s agenda?” he asked, adding that no university has ever made such a public announcement.

 

“UIA can withdraw my title but it cannot take my knowledge, my expertise will remain with me,” he said.

He added that he had never requested for the position of professor.

“Unlike others, I did not apply for professorship but I was asked by UIA at the end of 2002, to apply for the position,” he said.

Abdul Aziz, who will leave UIA tomorrow, was responding to Utusan Malaysia’s report today on UIA’s announcement that his ‘professor’ title will be dropped.

The report was in response to a letter to the Umno-owned daily, questioning Abdul Aziz's recognition as a constitutional law expert.

“The unofficial title of ‘constitutional law expert’ was given by the media including Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and other Umno-owned media but after 2008, they became uneasy and Utusan began to question the title,” said Abdul Aziz.

PKR declares Aziz Bari as its candidate

UIA’s statement today comes shortly after Abdul Aziz Bari was declared by PKR as its candidate in the next general election.

“Last Thursday, (PKR supremo) Anwar Ibrahim announced me as a candidate for the Sabak Bernam parliamentary seat at the Sabak Bernam mini-stadium before a crowd of 6,000,” he said.

He added that UIA’s statement would only draw attention to other controversial professors and will reflect badly on them.

“There are those who created problems but their titles were not withdrawn, for example the professor who said Malaysia was never colonised... or the professor who said Hang Tuah never existed.”

'UIA boleh ambil profesor, tapi bukan ilmu saya'

Pakar perlembagaan Dr Abdul Aziz Bari hari berkata, beliau tidak kisah gelaran sama ada gelaran profesornya ditarik balik oleh Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) atau tidak kerana kepakaran yang dimiliki tetap bersamanya.


"UIA boleh tarik gelaran itu tapi UIA tak boleh ambil ilmu saya. Kepakaran saya akan terus bersama saya.

"Saya tidak boleh sekat orang panggil saya profesor; apa pun saya saya tidak kisah ada gelaran atau tidak. Saya tetap saya," katanya.

Dr Aziz (kiri) hari ini dilaporkan tidak boleh lagi menggunakan status profesor kerana ia gugur secara automatik setelah menamatkan perkhidmatan dengan UIA.

Menjawab pertanyaan pembaca Utusan Malaysia, Bahagian Komunikasi Korporat UIA berkata, Abdul Aziz masih boleh menggunakan status profesor jika ada universiti lain melantiknya ke jawatan itu.

Dalam kenyataannya kepada Malaysiakini, Dr Aziz berkata, beliau sedih dengan gelagat UIA yang didakwa jelas menjadi "alat orang lain" dengan mengeluarkan kenyataan memalukannya, hanya kerana pertanyaan sepucuk surat pembaca "yang jahil" tentang ilmu dan gelaran profesor.

"Nampak macam UIA hendak ikut sama memalukan saya supaya saya sukar menghadapi hari-hari yang mendatang.

"Negara sudah tahu saya tidak lagi berkhidmat di UIA; jadi perlukah UIA membuat kenyataan begitu?" katanya.
 
UIA yang minta saya pohon profesor
 
Dr Aziz juga berkata, secara faktanya, ramai "profesor pencen" masih dipanggil profesor kerana orang yakin dan hormat dengan ilmunya dan setakat ini tidak ada universiti di Malaysia yang membuat kenyataan umum seperti UIA itu.

Beliau juga berkata tidak kisah atas tindakan itu kerana kegiatan akademik awamnya bermula sejak saya belum bergelar profesor lagi.

"Dengan itu apa yang mereka lakukan tidak akan memberi kesan kepada saya," katanya.

Menurut Dr Aziz juga berkata, gelaran profesor itu pun dipohonnya sebelum ini atas permintaan UIA sendiri melalui surat rasmi daripada rektor sepuluh tahun lalu.

"Tidak seperti orang lain saya tidak memohon, Saya diminta oleh pihak UIA, hujung 2002, untuk memohon jawatan profesor.

"Mungkin kerana ketika itu tulisan dan autoriti saya mengatasi rakan-rakan lain dalam fakulti dan mereka mahu saya 'masuk' dulu," katanya.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.