The Malaysian Insight

ACADEMICS doubt the progressive promises made by Pakatan Harapan on academic freedom after a senior lecturer alleged he was not allowed to be critical of the government in his writings.

Abdul Muein Abadi said he was barred from writing by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) administrators after his criticism caught the attention of A. Kadir Jasin, media adviser to the prime minister.

UKM vice-chancellor Mohd Hamid Abdul Shukor has refuted the allegation, denying the issue of such an order.

However fellow academics are worried by this development.

Mohd Haris Zuan Jaharudin from UKM Institut Kajian Malaysia dan Antarabangsa (Ikmas) said the episode showed signs of the government’s refusal to uphold its promises on academic freedom.

“This is a step backward to stop the people from enjoying the freedom PH once fought for,” said Haris, adding that it was unseemly to prevent academics from commenting on political matters.

“We have to fight this idea, if you don’t agree with what is written, put forward your arguments. Do not question the lecturer’s political ideology,” he said.

Kadir recently accused Muein of spreading false news, incomplete research and coming to false conclusions about PH after the political science lecturer wrote the article: “400 days, PH will sell more than RM20 billion worth of national assets”, which was later published on Umno Online.

Kadir, a veteran newsman, also alleged that there were hidden hands in UKM trying to sabotage the government and asked Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik to act against Muein.

The lecturer denied he was an enemy within, and that his article was based on official figures.

Lecturer Mohd Faisal Musa, better known as Faisal Tehrani, said academics could criticise PH more freely than they could the previous administration.

He said he was frequently called to stop criticising the previous administration but since GE14, he had been given the space to give do so.

 “I fought the old regime and I am still outspoken about the new government. For instance, the issue of the two missing activists and the abolition of Sedition Act.

“However, there are Little Napoleons around. They supported Najib Razak previously but now they have changed colours to survive,” said Faisal, without naming who he was referring to.

Last week, Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (Gerak) slammed Kadir for interfering in academic matters.

But while Gerak had decried Kadir’s criticism of Muein for being harsh, it had also said Muein’s article was weak and without context.

In May, Maszlee had boasted that academic freedom was one of the ministry’s accomplishments after one year in power, including the abolition of Section 15(2)(c) of the Universities and University Colleges Act, which had been used to suppress student political activism.

To student leaders, the Muein affair proves Maszlee had failed to bring freedom into universities.

“Why hasn’t Maszlee slammed the UKM vice-chancellor like he did when UKM barred Hishamuddin Rais from speaking at the university?

“Is this because Hishamuddin is close to PH, while Muein is close to PAS?” asked Asheeq Ali, a former student leader.

“If he continues to stay silent, it means he has failed and is not honest in carrying out his duties.”

Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Mahasiswa Lestari president Adam Malik Abdul Malek said only those who supported PH were allowed to speak and those who did not were silenced.

He recalled the four academics who were cesnrued for not supporting the government’s plan to sign the Rome Statute.

Where are the champions of academic freedom now, he asked, referring to PH leaders who had previously claimed to be its advocates.

“Academic freedom must be accepted as a whole”. – July 13, 2019.