It is hard to comprehend and disheartening to see the lack of response from fellow academics on the controversial pledge to be enforced by the government. It appears that everyone seems to be happy and supportive of the act.

Fear seems to have silenced everyone from reacting. No doubt, this is a delicate issue as it is a choice between sustaining one's rice bowl and the fight for justice. It is not necessary to have a further declaration of loyalty to the king and the country other than as stipulated in the constitution.

In academia, if an added commitment is needed, it should be the declaration of dedication to the pursuit of truth and knowledge, not to some coercive declaration of loyalty to the government.

The signing of the Aku Janji (I Pledge) is tantamount to a threat. Malaysians are already gagged by the Internal Security Act and both academics and students are further silenced by the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971.

Hence, there is no reason to implement another be good contract. In the academia context, it is argued that such a contract will ensure the academics do not misuse the classroom as an outletfor their personal political gain and ideology.

To play down the issue, certain quarters argue that the Aku janji pledge merely serves to remind academics and students of their first and foremost responsibility and that this does not imply that they cannot have their own political factions.

However, isn't it true that in all jobs, there is a universal agreement that one should not misuse ones position for personal gains? Hence, isn't this just a ploy to silence any expression of opinion?

In short, it seems pointless to have this loyalty (or so called reminder) pledge added on their lectureship employment contract, which is already bounded by the Universities and University College Act.

Further, all MPs and civil servants have to obey and sign the declaration if they wish to stay in the service. Whore the next targets? It would not be surprising if all MPs were to just obey and sign the declaration of loyalty without much persuasion by the PM since they have shown an impressive record of being spineless in their unfailing rally of support.

It is unbelievable however that the "Yes Sir" syndrome has also caught on with academics. This begs one to question what sort of inspiration can these highly respected group of educators pass on to students when their mentality and thinking faculty is strangled by fear and blindness to justice.

We are shamelessly coerced into silence on many things in the name of security and harmony for the country.

It is embarassing to read that the vice-chancellor of a well-respected university has made this statement, "If you want to be involved in politics, don't come to university" to potential undergraduates who may become the future leaders of this country.

Taken in another way, this statement simply means that we are encouraging a future generation of politicians/leaders with no strong academic background since academic pursuit will frustrate political ambitions.

I agree with Aman Rais (Jan 27) who said that our universities have become factories to manufacture robotic students just to satisfy the labour market. Hence, they no longer cultivate thinking students.

This somewhat contradicts the call by the government time and time again to encourage innovation and entrepeneurship among our youth. The government has become so inconsistent in their actions that they are confusing everyone.

The pledge implementation will stymie mental growth as everyone tries to toe the line by not questioning. A questioning mind is de rigueur in academia. Asian societies tend to frown upon those who question as people with a rebellious nature.

How do we learn when we do not question? How can we be creative and innovative when we are straightjacket-ed by the higher power in everything we do and say? The pledge of loyalty is the ultimate cane to wield to frighten students and academics alike into silence.

Debate will be out of the question under such an implementation although many would agree that debate in this country has never been encouraged if it does not march to the tune of the government.

Whos to blame when we get graduates with an unquestioning mind and the inability to hold intellectual discourse?

Its sad but true that the country is moving backwards simply because of fear . The country has been let down by two very respected groups of people in this country: the passive academics too afraid to speak out and the self-serving politicians who care only for their own hide.

The implementation of a coercive declaration of loyalty illustrates a glaring example of the narrow-mindedness of our leaders in defining loyalty and development. How can we lie to ourselves that ours is a modern nation when we are so fearful of changes and have such misplaced ideology on education and patriotism?