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The fact that the university authorities had chosen this path of gagging and questioning students points to a problem well entrenched in most universities in this country. Political pragmatism or expediency has shattered the idealism that universities are supposed to uphold and fight for.
The human rights violations on university campuses are but a mirror of the political and social ailments of the larger society. What's even worse, university authorities in Malaysia tend not to go against the tide.
Part of the problem is the absence of autonomy that should have been enjoyed by universities. The position of vice-chancellors (VCs) is, for all intents and purposes, a political appointment, and therefore they invariably come under heavy influence of the education minister in particular and the government in general.
If there is any difference between the VCs in the country, it would be a matter of degree. There are individuals holding this position who are more than eager to act on behalf of the government as a monitoring mechanism against academic staff and students.
The swift implementation by the local universities of the so-called Akujanji (pledge of good conduct) is a case in point. Any comments or criticisms against this new policy were not taken kindly or even seriously by the university authorities.
In short, debates and discussions of this nature have been thrown to the sidelines in a place where they should be put on a premium. (The underlying reason for implementing the Akujanji is merely an attempt to domesticate students and academic staff.)
So if a VC behaves in a manner that is harsh by standards of democracy, it is partly because his action is basically accepted by the education minister and the government as a whole.
The current situation of local universities is one that should be of concern to all Malaysians who value intellectual dynamism, and academic freedom and excellence.