KUALA LUMPUR – Universiti Malaya’s staffers and student bodies have joined the chorus in reiterating their support for the institution while condemning controversial US professor Bruce Gilley’s recent comments on Malaysia.
Pekerti UM (Persatuan Pegawai Tadbir dan Ikthisas UM) described the fiasco as a “crisis” and more finger-pointing will only rub salt in the wound.
“At a critical moment, let’s unite in protecting UM’s good name. Pointing fingers will not solve any problem, as it will only make it worse.
“We need to give space for UM’s top management to resolve this,” it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the institution’s college presidency secretariat said there is a silver lining, as campus security has improved since Gilley left.
“We also condemn all forms of effort to spread any pro-Zionist propaganda on campus and in the country.
“As one of UM’s student bodies, we believe the vice-chancellor will ensure such an incident would not occur again in the future.”
UM’s staff union said it is confident a similar incident will not recur after such a public fiasco.
“We hope this will not be blown out of proportion or manipulated by irresponsible parties.”
Earlier, UM’s Academic’s Staff Association said the incident involving Gilley is regrettable but must not be used as a reason to place more curbs on academic freedom.
Earlier this week, Gilley delivered a guest lecture at UM, after which he posted an excerpt of his speech in which he made an inflammatory claim against Malaysia and also said the country would never be a “serious player in world affairs”.
After being slammed on social media, he tweeted that Malaysia was unsafe and that he had managed to escape “the Islamo-fascist mob whipped up by the government”.
UM has since apologised and vowed to tighten procedures for guest speakers after swiftly cancelling Gilley’s remaining engagements.
After the outcry, including calls for heads to roll at UM, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said the government’s response was not aimed at curbing academic freedom.
“I have never interfered (in the organisation of academic programmes), but this is not academia-related. It is about a statement by an outsider about the nation’s safety, stance, and image.” – April 27, 2024