KUALA LUMPUR – Former education minister Maszlee Malik took the Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor to task, urging him to issue a public apology for controversial remarks made by a foreign professor.
He also insinuated that the vice-chancellor should resign from his post at the university.
This was in response to the controversy over social media posts by Portland State University’s Prof Bruce Gilley criticising Malaysia’s stance on Israel.
“VC should be a gentleman; please openly make an apology, and somebody has to resign with honour.
“Somebody in UM needs to take full responsibility for this. How come a pro-Zionist and someone who openly condemns Malaysia with slander are invited to our most prestigious university?” Maszlee asked in a Facebook post.
Earlier today, the American political science professor announced on X that he had left the country.
“I have safely departed from Malaysia, one step ahead of the Islamo-fascist mob whipped up by the government there.
“This is not a safe country to travel to now. Updates to follow,” he posted.
I have safely departed from Malaysia, one step ahead of the Islamo-fascist mob whipped up by the government there. This is not a safe country to travel to now. Updates to follow.
— Bruce Gilley (@BruceDGilley) April 25, 2024
On Tuesday, Gilley, representing Portland State University, delivered a keynote address titled “Will Malaysia Become an Active Middle Power” at an international relations seminar hosted by UM’s international and strategic studies department.
However, there are reports alleging that he misrepresented Malaysia’s intentions and aspirations for peace by advocating for an independent state for Palestine during his address.
Yesterday, a UM spokesperson told Scoop that an event featuring Gilley today had been cancelled after his social media posts criticising Malaysia’s stance against Israel.
The event, “Reassessing Republican China” by UM’s Institute of China Studies, was to be held at 10am today with Gilley, an author of several books on China, as the main speaker.
UM has apologised for the fiasco involving Gilley and said it would beef up screening procedures for guest speakers in the future.
Taking note of Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir’s call to scrap activities with suspected pro-Zionist speakers, UM said it immediately cancelled all scheduled programmes to be attended by Gilley. – April 25, 2024