Universiti Malaya ( UM) administration has made itself an international laughing stock when it banned parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim from attending a talk entitled “40 Years: From University of Malaya to Jail” planned by Universiti Malaya ‘s Student Council ( PMUM) on October 27.
When the brave PMUM leadership refused to be treated like school kids and decided to fight for their right to invite whom they wish to, UM administration did what was shocking for a university –resorting to the ridiculous tactic of shutting down power supplies and ordering a lockdown of the university.
It is unbelievable that such tactics could even be thought of by a university administration. The shocking tactics have caused UM’s reputation to take a further dip.
There can be no justification for UM to ban Anwar who is an elected representative of the Malaysian Parliament. Neither can there be any justification for the shut down and lockdown tactics.
I cannot imagine the embarrassment that the Prime Minister will face if he is asked about such shutdown and lockdown tactics at any international media event.
I believe Datuk Najib will at least know that it will be futile to defend the indefensible and will merely offer the poor and unacceptable explanation that that UM administration enjoys autonomy.
Yet UM is bent on inflicting more damage to its reputation. Yesterday, it initiated disciplinary proceedings against student leader Fahmi Zainol and eight other students for holding a rally with Anwar Ibrahim on Monday. The students have been instructed to attend an inquiry board meeting on Friday.
Does not the UM care about its international reputation that instead of doing what is all necessary to salvage its image due to its mistakes in the power supplies shut down and lockdown tactics, it is now hauling up the students for disciplinary hearing?
In the inaugural U.S.News Best Global Universities rankings launched a few days ago, among the top 500 institutions spread out across 49 countries, UM was ranked 423 compared to National University of Singapore‘s 55 th ranking.
For the past many years, UM has not performed well in other university ranking charts like the QS or Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
I call on UM administration to withdraw the disciplinary charges against the student leaders and focus its efforts on how to improve the university’s ranking.