The Star Online (http://www.thestar.com.my)
Student officer’s remarks on Islam to be probed, 23 October 2008
PETALING JAYA: The Islamic Development Department will investigate a Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) student affairs officer over statements he had allegedly made on Islam.
The officer had allegedly told two female UPM students that it was “useless to be devout when one does not pay college fees.”
It was learnt that the two girls -- Nursha Fiqa Mohd Ali and Farhana Farzieana Azmi, both 21 -- were studying at UPM Serdang when they were banned on Oct 15 from living on campus a week before their examinations, which started Oct 20.
The two alleged that the officer had accused them of not paying their tuition fees when the bank had already disbursed the payments.
According to Nursha, the university took care of the loan transfer from the bank and the loan was released in early July.
“He gave no valid reason. He also made an excuse that we were evicted from the hostel because there were no rooms,” she said on Thursday.
The Islamic Student Association reported the matter to the Department in Putrajaya on Thursday.
Wanita PKR said the alleged remarks were irresponsible and confusing to Muslims, and wanted the Islamic Development Department to investigate the matter.
“We want the University to explain the matter,” said Wanita PKR chief Zuraida Kamruddin.
“The administration is supposed to set an example to students and not confuse them or display bad behaviour,” she said in a statement on Thursday.
“We want the officer in question to be more responsible for his words because they touched on the sensitivities of Muslims,” Zuraida added.
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