It was reported yesterday that Fahmi Zainol , President of the Universiti Malaya’s Student Council (PMUM), was issued a show cause letter by the Student Affairs Division (HEP) for organising a talk by Anwar Ibrahim entitled “40 Years: From University of Malaya to Jail” .
I do not see any reason that can justify the University’s most illogical decision.
Annuar Ibrahim is an elected representative and the opposition leader of Malaysian Parliament. He is free to speak at ceramahs and talks throughout the country. He has been invited to speak at foreign universities.
What valid and acceptable grounds can there be for the University administration to ban Annuar Ibrahim from giving the talk?
That Annuar can cause public order problem? Certainly this is not an issue as he has been traveling and speaking throughout the nation without any public order issue. .
That Annuar is a politically controversial speaker? This cannot not be a reason to ban him as university is a place where controversial views should be heard, debated, challenged.
That Annuar will give biased views against the government? This reason too cannot be accepted as other clubs in the university can always invite government leaders to give counter talks if they so wish.
It was reported that Universiti Malaya ( UM) ’s student affairs vice chancellor Rohana Yusof said the university had banned the programme because it would be in violation of the university’s rules and would tarnish the university’s reputation.
How could inviting the nation’s federal opposition leader tarnish the university’s reputation? This must be really a ridiculous reason.
On the contrary, allowing the talk to go on as scheduled will enhance the university’s reputation as it will reflect the university’s readiness to respect the students’ council leadership’s right to invite speakers whom they wish to listen to.
UM must be reminded that academic freedom also includes the students’ right to hear.
It is unimaginable that any university in America, UK, Australia or other countries that practice vibrant democracy will ban their opposition leader from attending any university talk in their country.
Banning the talk is not an option. UM must be prepared to uphold academic freedom.
Unless it rescinds its decision to ban the talk , it will become a laughing stock among the international academic community and its reputation will certainly be affected.
Negative international news will also be an international embarrassment for the federal government and the nation.