KOTA KINABALU, Nov 15 ― Datuk Seri Najib Razak waded today into the recent controversy over the alleged banning of a Christmas party by a local university, saying he found it “weird” that the institution would prohibit such an event.

The prime minister pointed out that if the event is organised according to the university's rules and regulations, there should be no reason to ban it from being held.

“I thought it was weird. If it was organised properly, appropriately, then there shouldn't be a problem.

“I'm sure it can be celebrated on campus,” Najib said in his speech during the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) convention here.

The prime minister, upon being informed later by Upko acting president Datuk Madius Tangau that the issue has been resolved, said that he was happy to hear that the issue has been resolved.

“There’s no need to bring it up anymore,” he said.

Earlier this week, Malay Mail Online reported of allegations raised by Tangau and students that University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) would not approve the annual Christmas party unless it was held outside of the campus.

According to Tangau in a statement, Christian groups in the university have been having their annual Christmas celebration in a nearby hotel for the past two years and were planning another this year’s event at a nearby auditorium after their bid to hold it on campus was not approved.

“They were told to change the venue to get approval. Meanwhile, other events such as Deepavali and Pesta Tang Lung, Aidilfitri and Tadau Kaamatan was celebrated on a big scale,” he said.

But UMS later insisted that it has always allowed students to hold their party on campus, and said the allegations claiming otherwise were just a simple misunderstanding.

On Wednesday, vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Mohd Harun Abdullah confirmed the approval for this year’s party while denying that UMS has ever prevented students from holding activities within its compound.

The confirmation was also conveyed earlier to Malay Mail Online by UMS deputy vice chancellor in charge of student affairs Dr Ismail Ali.

“Every year we have approved it, but outside the university, because it is a big event. Now they would like to have it inside, so OK,” Dr Ismail Ali wrote in a text message to Malay Mail Online.

In a statement, Mohd Harun Abdullah said that the decision to have the Christmas party off campus in previous years was due to space and parking constraints at UMS.

Tangau, however, claimed that the change of heart came after Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap contacted the university and intervened for the application to be approved.