Ridhuan: Nobody defended me on my sedition probe
Ridhuan Tee Abdullah argued today that not a single person defended him for academic freedom when his article, published in Sinar Harian , was investigated under the Sedition Act.
Ridhuan Tee Abdullah argued today that not a single person defended him for academic freedom when his article, published in Sinar Harian , was investigated under the Sedition Act.
“Why didn’t university students launch a ‘hartal’ together with the opposition?” Ridhuan asked.
The controversial lecturer said this in response to the firestorm of protest after Universiti Malaya law lecturer Azmi Sharom was charged under the Sedition Act.
According to Ridhuan, this reeked of double standards.
"When our views are pro-opposition, that is academic freedom. But when our views are different, it is labelled as pro-government or racist.
"Shouldn’t we accept both?” he asked in his column published in today's issue of Sinar Harian .
Ridhuan also argued that the Western definition of academic freedom cannot be accepted in total because the West is secular.
He said academic freedom is for intellectuals to express their opinions, not to demonstrate like politicians.
“In Malaysia, intellectuals are divided, either pro-government or anti-government. There is no one in the middle, and this group is not allowed to grow.
“Why can’t they be allowed to grow? An intellectual’s role is sometimes being seen as pro-government, and sometimes as pro-opposition.
“Academic freedom does not allow us to say or write things at our whim and fancy. We are still bound by laws and the local political culture,” he added.
As for those who are “obsessed” in supporting Azmi, Ridhuan asked what kind of freedom do they desire.
“To the point of criticising and tarnishing the rulers? I admit rulers are not angels and can be criticised, but it must be done in a courteous manner,” he added.
As Muslims, he said, academic freedom depends on the guidelines of the Quran and Sunnah, where one should not criticise or insult the Quran or Prophet Muhammad.
Azmi was charged under the Sedition Act for his remarks published in a news portal on the Perak constitutional crisis of 2009.
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