One of the roles of the academia is to stand up when they see injustices being done, University Technology Malaysia (UTM) professor Maketab Mohamed said today.

"When I see an injustice being done, then I have to do something.

"I know they say they'll have a file on me, but so what? What did I do wrong?" he said at a forum on bauxite mining at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was speaking on the pollution effects and water quality impacts of bauxite mining.

However, he said that it was not just bauxite mining they had to speak out against.

"It's not just bauxite alone [...] whether it's logging, bauxite or sand, it is the same factors.

"Are you going to do something? Reporters? Academia? Everybody else? Or are you going to keep silent?" he asked the forum participants.

His fellow professor, Azizan Abu Samah, who was also the organiser of the forum, agreed with him on the role of the academia.

Universities have to 'promote academic freedom and professionalism', he said.

Azizan also warned that academic research must be based on evidence in order to remain credible.

Bauxite mining in Kuantan has drawn criticism and protests from local residents and NGOs for polluting the area.

On Jan 13, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ordered the urban wellbeing, housing and local government ministry to carry out cleaning works in areas affected by bauxite mining.