Malay Mail - It’s time to put university research in Malaysia under the microscope - Murray Hunter

Malaysian universities have tended to put emphasis on producing large quantities of papers, rather than quality. Many academics are practicing ‘chequebook academia’ by paying to place articles in journals that can publish them within a month or so from submission. The quantity of paper output rather than academic weight is the prime KPI of Malaysian universities today. 

See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/its-time-to-put-university-research-in-malaysia-under-the-microscope-murray 

Media Statement 7 October 2015

KENYATAAN MEDIA 7 OKTOBER 2015

Semalam, 6 Oktober 2015, Dr Azmi Sharom telah gagal dalam cubaan beliau untuk mendapatkan pengistiharan dari Mahkamah Persekutuan terhadap ketidakakuran Akta Hasutan dengan Perlembagaan Malaysia. Mahkamah telah mengistiharkan akta tersebut adalah sah.

Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (GERAK) terkilan akan keputusan tersebut dan amat bimbang akan kesannya terhadap kebebasan akademik di Malaysia, terutamanya terhadap kebebasan bersuara. Dengan pengesahan tersebut, mahkamah telah melanjutkan kegunaan sesutu undang-undang boleh dan telahpun digunakan untuk menyekat kebebasan akademik.

Azmi telah dituduh dibawah Akta Hasutan kerana memberi pandangan professional sebagai seorang ahli akademik undang-undang. Kami sebagai ahli akademik mempunyai satu tanggungjawab untuk berkongsi ilmu bukan sahaja dengan pelajar dan masyarakat akademik tetapi juga dengan masyarakat umum. Ini adalah sebahagian dari sumbangan wajib para akademik kepada masyarakat. Para akademik bukannya robot hanya untuk mengajar dan buat penyelidikan. Kami perlu menyumbang balik kepada masyarakat atas kebebasan akademik yang telah diberikan.

Kami, para akademik Malaysia mengesa Peguam Negara mengkaji semula dan menarik balik pertuduhan terhadap Azmi Sharom. Berikan ruang kepada kami untuk suara akademik. Kita tidak akan dapat membentukkan universiti kelas dunia dengan ranking tinggi jika para akademiknya tidak diberi kebebasan akademik. 

Yesterday, 6 October 2015, Dr Azmi Sharom lost in his attempt to get a declaration from the Federal Court on the non-constitutionality of the Sedition Act. The court had declared that the act is valid.

The Malaysian Academics Movement (MOVE) is very disappointed with the declaration and worried with its effect on academic freedom in Malaysia, particularly on freedom of academic expression. The court, by upholding the Sedition Act has in fact allowed for the continuation of a law that can be and has been used to curb academic freedom.

Azmi was charged under the Sedition Act for giving his expert opinion as a legal academic. We, as academics have a responsibility to share our expertise not only with our students and the academic community but also with the public at large. This is part of our required contribution to society. Academics are not robots that just do teaching and research. We must give back to society for giving us academic freedom.

We, Malaysian academics, urge the Attorney-General to revise and withdraw the charges against Azmi Sharom. We need room for academic expression. We can never have high-ranking world class universities without academic freedom.

Bagi pihak GERAK / On behalf of MOVE

Rosli H Mahat

Setiausaha Agung / General Secretary

GERAK / MOVE

Solidarity with Azmi Sharom

6 Oct 2015: Academics in solidarity with Azmi Sharom at Palace of Justice (Federal Court), Putrajaya