Don't curb freedom of speech among academics, Zambry tells varsities

Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir has urged universities not to stifle freedom of speech among its academics even if certain quarters do not welcome the views given.

He also voiced his disagreement with the use of laws, including the Statutory Bodies (Discipline and Surcharge) Act 2000, to suppress views from academics.

“I would like to stress that freedom of speech among academics will continue to be defended as long as it is based on their respective discipline and research,” Berita Harian reported Zambry (above) as saying at a press conference after officiating Konvenyen Akademia earlier today.

On Oct 17, former education minister Maszlee Malik leaked an internal Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) memo reminding academics not to make public statements, including on social media, unless authorised.

It stated that the reminder to all public officials came from Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar through the Prime Minister’s Department management meeting.

“If slapped with an offence or if existing regulations are violated, disciplinary action can be taken,” cautioned the memo.

It added that all public servants, including those from statutory bodies, are forbidden from making public statements, whether in oral, written, or other forms, “which can be detrimental to policies, plans or decisions by any statutory body or the government on any issues”.

Following a backlash, UKM said it celebrates differences in opinion and does not hinder freedom of speech, rebutting claims that it has silenced its academics from publicly voicing their opinions.

It clarified that it does not prevent the freedom of expression of all its staff in giving statements either verbally or in writing, including on social media.

However, the university emphasised that statements need to be presented properly.

‘Elitist cocoon’

Zambry said intellectuals must be free to shape ideas and knowledge instead of being trapped in an “elitist cocoon”.

“Without it (freedom of speech), we won’t be able to come up with good ideas and fulfil our social responsibility to the public,” he added.

Even if the academic’s work displeases certain quarters, the minister stressed it cannot be used to muzzle them.

“Academics won’t say anything without any reason but we have to ensure the view is based on their discipline, facts and evidence,” he noted.

When it came to directives, Zambry reminded everyone to consider them, including the ones from the Public Service Department, in the context of how a university is run.

“As I mentioned earlier, a university’s ecosystem is quite different.

“And we don’t want the directives issued being interpreted as an attempt to stifle the rights of its academic group,” he added.

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