(The Star) - Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak will no longer comment on the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) issue following a gag order.

He, however, declined to say who gave the order. Sources said the directive came from the PAS leadership.

“I was told not to say anything about UUCA. So, do not ask me about UUCA or Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin),” he said here.

The gag order was issued after Azizan blasted his critics who questioned him for supporting the suspension of five students of Kuin for breaching college regulations in May last year.

It was reported that many Pakatan Rakyat leaders were unhappy with Azizan's comments that touched on the UUCA and also Pakatan Rakyat's Buku Jingga or Common Policy Framework.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu had asked Azizan to give an explanation to the party central committee on his stand on the UUCA and the suspension of the students.

However, Azizan sent his political secretary Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to brief the committee on Wednesday.

Azizan was reported as saying that he had called up party president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang to explain the matter and the party president had accepted his explanation.

It was reported that the students were suspended for organising protests against Kuin.

The students were hauled up before a disciplinary committee on May 25, last year for breaching the UUCA by participating in a demonstration, making speeches with loudspeakers and holding a press conference to protest the use of a religious teaching block to house a smart school.

Azizan had said the decision to suspend them was made by Kuin and the state government did not interfere with the decision.