Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah has told politicians and public figures not to intervene in the academic affairs of universities to ensure their integrity.

 

Referring to a speech delivered by his late father Sultan Azlan Shah at Universiti Malaya’s (UM) convocation ceremony in 1987, Nazrin said yesterday that academic independence was important and encroachment from outside will only adversely affect standards.

 

“From history, we can observe in many nations when a foreign party tried to meddle with the academic management of a university, its academic quality declined and it was difficult to recover from, not in only in the third world but in developed countries.

 

“I urge political leaders and other public figures in society not to lead, influence or lobby a university in academic affairs,” Nazrin ( left ) quoted his late father, as reported in the News Straits Times today.

 

Nazrin said this at a special commemoration ceremony yesetrday at UM for his father, who was the university chancellor.

 

The quotes were said in reference to recent protests that happened in UM by those who objected against punishment meted out to seven student activists by the university administration for their part in organising a campus talk featuring opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 27.

 

The ‘Occupy UM’ protest, to build support in their challenge against the suspension and fines levied on the students, has been gathering solidarity visits from prominent opposition politicians.

They include DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, and PAS central committee member Khalid Samad.

 

‘Ahead of its time’

 

In his speech, the sultan also said it was important for the country to have a free and independent judiciary, uphold the Federal Constitution and be united, something which his father has divulged in his speech some 30 years ago.

 

“During a convocation ceremony on June 30, 1979, after receiving an honorary Doctorate of Literature from the university, Sultan Azlan, who was then the external examiner for UM’s Bachelor of Law degree, shared his words of wisdom, which were ahead of its time.

 

“Touching on sensitive issues pertaining to conflicts over race and religion, his words should be used as a guide and reference to deter the country from sensationalising sensitive issues that could ignite conflicts and jeopardise harmony in the country.

 

“His speech ended with this reminder: to forge a Malaysian society that is strong, dynamic and long-lasting, everyone must come together under one flag, the Malaysian flag; one ruler, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong; one language, Bahasa Malaysia; one song, Negaraku; one culture, a culture based on Malay culture; and, under one motto, ‘ Bersekutu bertambah mutu ’ (Unity improves quality),” said Nazrin in the news report.

 

During the ceremony, the sultan was reported to be choked with emotion during a three-minute presentation video of the late Sultan Azlan during his time at UM.

He was teary-eyed while delivering his speech, even pausing at times to wipe away tears.