The International Islamic University (IIUM) has been urged to respect academic freedom after it abruptly stopped a forum where a top opposition leader was invited two days ago.

 

Centre For a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) co-president Gan Ping Sieu, who is a former alumnus of IIUM, said public universities should not over-regulate themselves to the point of stifling academic freedom.

 

"As an alumnus of IIUM, I am very disappointed. The duty of each university's administration is to facilitate students with clear guidelines on student activities, not frustrate them.

 

"No university will achieve international renown by shackling academic freedom and student activism," he said in a statement today.

 

Gan was referring to IIUM's move to cancel a student forum on May 13 featuring PKR's Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli ( left in photo ) and Department of Special Affairs (Jasa) representative Lokman Adam.

 

"This is the second forum which IIUM abruptly cancelled in less than three weeks.

 

"On April 29, it also called off a forum on moderation, due to what is believed to be the presence of certain politicians there," lamented Gan.

 

He pointed out that in the QS World University Rankings, IIUM is ranked 501 in the world last year, compared with Universiti Malaya's improved 151.

 

"IIUM's decisions to call off the two sessions to exchange ideas also go against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's plea for students to ' ask why? ' when opening the National Academic Decathlon 2015 earlier this week.

 

"The prime minister had wanted students to be inquisitive and see both sides of the arguments," he said.