KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S foreign minister has urged a top university to reconsider its decision to scrap a speech by Iranian Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi, according to reports on Friday.

Dr. Ebadi, an outspoken critic of the human rights situation in her home country, had been due to speak at University of Malaya on Nov 3, but her invitation was withdrawn following pressure from Iranian students.

'We would like Dr. Ebadi to be invited to the forum,' Foreign Minister Rais Yatim told the Star daily.

'Malaysia should allow the freedom of expression and criticisms at the highest level. I will go and investigate this matter,' he added.

The university's vice-chancellor Rafiah Salim said on Wednesday the decision to withdraw the invitation was made 'out of respect for our Iranian students who were not very happy.'

However, the Star reported that a letter from the Malaysian foreign ministry had been sent to the university saying it was not wise to invite Dr. Ebadi as the Iranian government viewed her as a critic supporting a 'Western agenda.'

Mr Rais said the ministry's advice was 'not official,' describing the decision not to invite Ebadi as 'unfortunate.'

'This is definitely done without my involvement. If I had known of it, I would have informed my office against it'' he added.

Dr. Ebadi, an Iranian human rights lawyer who in 2003 became the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, had been due to speak on 'Islam and Cultural Diversity.'

She previously said she has faced death threats, as well as hostility from the Iranian state media and government, for defending the rights of followers of the minority Baha'i religion, which is banned in Iran.

Her daughter has also been accused of apostasy, a serious crime in Iran which carries the death penalty. -- AFP