SACKING OF IIUM'S PRESIDENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER

Dear Readers,

I would have thought that my earlier press statements needed no translation. However, as time flies and many weeks have passed, I still continue to have enquiries from friends and acquaintances overseas, and from local friends who are not conversant in Malay to the meaning of my lengthy statement. Even friends at the embassies are not satisfied with their in-house translation and would like to get it from the horse’s mouth. I therefore humbly present the following translation of my press statement of 10^th June, 2008. Insya Allah, after this translation I will be more regular attending to my blogs on other matters.

Sanusi bin Junid.

7^th July, 2008

The sacking of Sanusi Junid from the post of

President of International Islamic University

Malaysia by the Prime Minister of Malaysia

10^th June, 2008

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Press Release

1. The sacking of the President of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

My press conference on 5^th June 2008, explained that I will not voluntarily resign from my post as the President of IIUM just because I am no longer a member of UMNO ( acronym for a political party, United Malays National Organisation )

I have not abused my position at the university to pursue my personal political agenda.

The press statement in Utusan Malaysia dated 10^th June 2008, which read ‘He claimed that no one can sack him before his tenure ends in 2010’, was a lie. ( the ‘He’, ‘him’ and ‘his’ refers to me ).

Please refer to my written press statement circulated at the press conference on 5^th June 2008 for clarification.

The press releases at the conference on the above date and today, a written copy of which will soon be circulated, is to preempt false accusations.

2. Non Abuse of Power

The implied condition made by the Minister of Higher Education for his opinion that I should not be removed from my post was for me ‘not using the Presidency post for personal political interest’. His opinion appeared in a newspaper on Sunday 1^st June, 2008.

Subsequent to my press statement on 5^th June, 2008, on 7^th June, 2008, HE the Minister of Higher Education further said that:

(a) Nobody is forcing me to hand in my resignation, (b) the authority to appoint and release me from my duties is in the hands of the Head of Constitution of IIUM that is HRH the Sultan of Pahang.

Berita Harian on 7^th June 2008 posted that HE the Minister stated that my press statement dated 5^th June 2008 was just my way of searching for attention and publicity. ( This statement was proven to be untrue by subsequent events ).

3. The Power of the Prime Minister

The press statement by HE the Minister dated 7^th June, 2008 was actually incomplete, as the Constitution of IIUM, stated clearly that the Constitutional Head of IIUM is the only person who can end my presidency with the advise of HE the Prime Minister.

4. The Sacking

On 9^th June, 2008, I received an envelope containing a letter of dismissal from my post as president of IIUM, signed by the Constitutional Head of IIUM, HRH the Sultan of Pahang in accordance with Section IV Subject 20 (iii) of the Constitution.

Noting my excellent relationship with the Constitutional Head of IIUM, it is obvious that this decision was not enthusiastically made by HRH the Sultan of Pahang himself.

My tenure ends in two years and as I have no record of misconduct there is no reason for my immediate dismissal, and it is obvious that the sacking was orchestrated by various parties with personal agendas.

5. The IIUM Constitution

IIUM Constitution states:

Section IV Subject 20(iii) –

‘The President may by writing under his hand addressed to the Constitutional Head, resign his office or he may be relieved of his position by the Constitutional Head on the advice of the Host Member.’

Section IV Subject 20 (iii) of the IIUM constitution shows clearly that my sacking from the IIUM Presidency is upon the advise or pressure from the Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Hj. Ahmad Badawi.

The letter of dismissal, or sacking, dated 2^nd June, 2008 took effect on the same day without giving any reason whatsoever, verbally or in writing. The press statement of the Minister of Higher Education on 7^th June, 2008 was thus the Minister’s guess of what is the government policy on sacking.

6. Does a cabinet minister therefore represent the Government anymore?

6.1. The press statement by HE the Minister of Higher Education on 1^st June, 2008 does not portray the government’s stand.; and the statement by HE the Minister posted on 7^th June 2008 and the following news in Utusan Malaysia dated 10^th June 2008 showed that he was not consulted prior to the release of the ‘sacking’ letter dated 2^nd June, 2008.

6.2. This proves that my preemptive press statement on 5^th June 2008 was not made to ‘create sensation to attract the attention of the public’.

7. Does a Political Secretary have More Power and Information than a Cabinet Minister, in the Minister’s area of responsibilities?

7.1. As one of those who have been a member of the cabinet, I am very concerned to see the current development where a political secretary can usurp the power of a Minister.

7.2. I was actually sacked through the Political Secretary of the Minister of Finance ( who is also the Prime Minister ) , who is coincidentally one of IIUM Majlis members whose name was proposed by me to HRH the Constitutional Head of IIUM to be a representative of the alumni of IIUM in the Majlis of the International Islamic University. It was my choice and it need not be him.

7.3. The function of a member of the Majlis was to be a bridge between HE the Prime Minister and IIUM, as the Prime Minister is known to be a difficult person to make an appointment with.

7.4. Unfortunately, the Majlis member who appears to be infrequent at attending the Majlis meeting, using busy as an excuse, but used his position to entertain other interests.

7.5. On the subject of my sacking, the Majlis member acted as a flint-stone or ‘batu api’ and insisted that journalists obtained confirmation from me about my sacking even before I received the sacking letter.

7.6. Have the alumni representative changed from being the bridge between IIUM and HE the Prime Minister, to being the cause of misunderstanding, further aggravating the confusion through the media, even before my sacking was announced by IIUM. Such was the negative enthusiasm.

7.7. Does the Miniter of Finance’s Political Secretary who sits in the IIUM Majlis have the power and has more information, in this issue, than any member of the cabinet? Is this how the government is run?

8. Functions of the IIUM Alumni

8.1. The alumni, or IIUM graduates must strive to be a leader with a positive definition.

8.2. A leader must be a problem-solver rather than a a source for problems.

8.3. IIUM graduates must nurture and retain their love towards IIUM which has contributed so much to their success.

8.4. The success of IIUM graduates in businesses and industries may help in the growth of the IIUM waqaf fund, until one day, this fund will be the endowment funds like those in universities of developed countries in the west, which pays for students’ needs, the cost of infrastructure development and management expenses of the university.

9. Malay Special Rights and Islam as the State Religion of Malaysia

9.1. My departure from UMNO does not need to be politicized in the IIUM campus.

9.2. My departure from UMNO does not mean that I do not love UMNO but to continue to fight for the Special Rights of the Malays, which appears to be declining.

9.3. This is indirectly part of my ‘Ibadah’ for the ‘Ummah’

9.4. Every member of the IIUM Alumni has to realize that the presence of IIUM is dependent on:

i. The Special Rights of the Malays, and

ii. Islam being the state religion of Malaysia.

9.5. These ‘Special Rights’ are guaranteed in the Malaysian Constitution.

9.6. Because of these ‘Special Rights of the Malays’, the Malaysian government is obliged to support the costs of its Malaysian students studying in IIUM. The development and management costs were also provided as IIUM is of Islamic orientation and Islam being the country’s official religion.

10. The Purpose of Special Rights for the Malays

10.1. The presence of ‘Malay special rights’ in the Malaysian constitution is a historical necessity, which is not intended to be unfair towards the non-Malays.

10.2. These ‘rights’ are further intended to guarantee the country’s peace by balancing the non-Malays’ dominance in the field of education and the economy with the Malays’ weaknesses in these two areas.

10.3. Only through giving special rights to the Malay can peace be expected and assured and the government be considered fair.

10.4. This expectation and assurance of fairness depends on the Malay communities’ ability in defending the Constitution.

11. The Struggle in The Preservation of a Hope or Vision by Defending the Constitution

11.1. The maintenance of hope and vision in the ‘Special Rights of the Malays’ can only be by -

i. The Political Institution which overseas the administration

ii. The Monarchy overseeing the religion of Islam, and

iii. The Justicial System which interprets the Constitution.

11.2. The above three conditions show that the political institution is the key to peace, since the political institution protects the monarchy through the Constitution and Justicial System. With the present threat to the Malay political establishment, the Special Rights of the Malays, Islam as the state religion and the hope and expectation of the Malays is being challenged.

11.3. This challenge can only be appeased by an excellent Justice System, and by the Judges who understand and respect the constitution.

12. The Relationship between the Special Rights of the Malays and The Justicial System.

12.1. Those who are ill-informed or just Anti-Malays consider the Special Rights of the Malays as being unjust.

12.2. Justice however is interpreted by the judges.

12.3. The guarantee of preserving these special rights depends on judicial decisions.

12.4. If any judge does not contribute to the idea of ‘Malay Special Rights’, then only the strength of the Malay political establishment can defend those rights.

12.5. If the Malay political establishment is weak, then it needs to be strengthened. The Malay communities’ worry was voiced out through the recent 12^th Malaysian General Election.

12.6. Are we going to wait further for the voters’ decision to change the present political establishment with another, during the 13^th General Election?

12.7. This lengthy explanation about ‘Malay Special Rights’ is important with the hope that the whole IIUM community understands what is necessary .

13. Centre of Excellence for Akhlak and Knowledge

13.1. Excellent performance and contribution by all members of the administrative and academic staff, from the highest to the lowest level, is appreciated.

13.2. This impressive and beautiful campus portrays the dream of its community to produce a center of excellence for ‘Knowledge and Virtue’.

14. Parents and Guardian

14.1. Apart from students and graduates from Malaysia, students from other OIC countries also need to understand challenges and problems faced by Muslims in this country.

14.2. It is hoped that parents or guardians of students will understand and play positive roles in supporting the policies of Malaysia and be able to defend these policies when criticized by others, in your respective countries

15. Islamic Bank, Finance and Economics, and Islamic Science

15.1. Since my sacking was so abrupt, I’m writing this statement in the hope that it can be a guidance as food for thought for the benefit of the Ummah. Whatever happens, I will always pray to Allah s.w.t. that IIUM will continue to play its role as a bridge, which highlights the truth and the goodness of Islam in such a way that any misunderstanding of Islam, which now becomes the barrier to a good and peaceful relationship among Muslims, the nations of the Muslim World and the West.

15.2. One of the great teachings of Islam, which have influenced the West is the Islamic Banking System, Islamic Finance and Economics.

15.3. In the near future, Islamic Science will also influence the West; and its influence will be even greater than the influence made by Islamic Economics, because it will also influence the faith or ‘Akidah of those who understand

15.4. Though the Islamic World is trailing the West in adopting the practice of Islamic Economics, Finance and Banking systems, the Islamic world should continue its exploration into Islamic Science.

16. IIMU (International Institute For Muslim Unity)

16.1. Unity among Islamic Ummah has yet to be achieved but the road towards unity is clear and the barrier needs to be shortened.

16.2. International Institute for Muslim Unity is aimed at uniting the Ummah all over the world.

16.3. Academic staff, students and graduates are encouraged to continue contributing to the programs of the International Institute For Muslim Unity until unity is achieved

16.4. The Alumni network and the network of IIUM graduates need to continue playing the role for the unity of the Muslim Ummah.

17. IIUM Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

17.1. Successes accomplished by the members of IIUM Holdings Sdn. Bhd. Board of Directors, and specifically the management contributions and all members of the staff, need to be appreciated.

17.2. This Company which is fully owned by IIUM need to be assured of continuous success in the future, and need to retain its full ownership by IIUM.

17.3. The synergy of mental power within the IIUM Campus will assure that IIUM Holdings Sdn. Bhd. will flourish successfully all over the world; it should be involved in businesses among the Muslim Ummah through the Alumni network, as well as attract private investors and work with other government agencies and bodies or organizations of the OIC countries.

18. The International Character of IIUM

18.1. As an international institution IIUM has a global responsibility in assisting the development of Islamic countries and in promoting the unity of the Muslim Ummah all over the world.

18.2. The academicians of IIUM should be scholars and experts from all of the OIC countries.

18.3. IIUM needs to make great effort in recruiting qualified academicians from each of the OIC countries.

18.4. IIUM should strive to upgrade the level of qualification for academicians, from Islamic Countries, who are still left behind.

18.5. IIUM students have to come from all Muslim nations in the world. For countries with a reduced number of students at IIUM, the university should increase their numbers.

18.6. This should also be the case for academicians and students from different states in Malaysia.

18.7. In this way, we can continue to develop IIUM as a national university with an international character.

19. An Advise

19.1. All students who are studying in IIUM are advised to adopt the ‘Iqra’ culture and seek knowledge with diligence and total commitment so that they are able to help themselves, their parents, and their family, in the future.

19.2. IIUM students should equip themselves to enable them to serve their community, people, country and all the Muslim Ummah.

19.3. IIUM graduates, should serve with –

i. Trustworthiness or Amanah,

ii. Courage,

iii. Discipline,

iv. Diligence, and

v. Loyalty

20. Sacking with Honour

20.1. My sacking by HE the Prime Minister of Malaysia is accepted by me as an honour.

20.2. There is no apology or regret accompanying it. Sadness will only occur when my sacking is done by a leader who is respected by its citizens. It is not so in this case.

20.3. YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, once accepted the apologies of YAB Datuk Sri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for Abdullah’s treacherous acts during his time out of cabinet.

20.4. YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad then groomed him to be his successor as the Prime Minister.

20.5. Unfortunately, after YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad resigned, and gave Dato’ Seri Abdullah the chance to lead the country. At the time of Tun Mahathir’s resignation Malaysia was famous and respected all over the world, for its robust economy and political stability. However Dato’ Seri Abdullah proved to be an ungrate being and treated Tun Dr. Mahathir, his mentor, with disrespect.

20.6. Compared to his ungrateful treatment of his mentor, Tun Mahathir, my sacking was certainly an easy job.

21. Menjunjung Kasih (Thank You)

As a loyal citizen, I take this opportunity to thank HRH the Sultan of Pahang, as the Constitutional Head of IIUM for his trust, advice, leadership and inspiration that he had given me during my term as President of IIUM.

22. Kindness and Gratitude

Many thanks to YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad for his foresight and thoughtfulness in making IIUM as a reality, for the future of the Muslim Ummah, , and for his trust in giving me an opportunity to PERFORM MY 'IBADAH' as its President.

23. Majlis and Board of Governors

Thank you to all members of the Majlis and Board of Governors of IIUM for the support that I enjoyed, throughout, overseeing the university.

24. Moral and Material Assistance

I will not forget to thank my acquaintances among the leaders, donours, alim-ulama and Muslim scholars from all over the world who have given me moral and material support, inspiring and sharing good examples, guidance and lessons for the successes of IIUM.

25. Press Conference

25.1 Last but not least, I wish to thank you, members of the media, for your time in attending this press conference today.

25.2 Your attendance at this press conference is highly appreciated.

25.3 Only through this press conference am I able to defend my marwah as a humble servant of Allah who only wish to perform an ‘Ibadah’ in HIS righteous path.

25.4 All of the above statements is hoped to reach everyone, especially those involved, directly or indirectly with IIUM.

25.5 The immediate and sudden termination of my service for the university did not give me the opportunity to formally communicate with members of the IIUM fraternity.

26. Apologies and Syukur

26.1 To all parties, I, as a human being who is not 'maksum', or free from sin, apologize for any of my wrong-doings or short-comings throughout my service as the President of IIUM.

26.2 Let us together praise and be grateful to Allah s.w.t. for all his ‘nikmah’ in

giving us IIUM.

26.3 It is important for us to remember that -

‘power, wealth and family are the amanah (trust upon us) from Allah s.w.t.; we as humans can only plan and execute but only Allah s.w.t. can determine the results.’

26.4 We believe that this is a ‘Hikmah’ from Allah s.w.t.. The battle for the truth does not end here. That battle will be pursued for the benefit of Islam, the people, the nation and the Ummah. Let us concentrate on the means and Allah s.w.t. will provide the endings.

Wabillaahi Taufik Wassalaamu’alaikum.

Thank you,

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sanusi bin Junid