Media Statement 21 November 2020

GERAK condemns the recent violent threats made by vicious individuals against student leaders from the Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY).

Threats of this nature – and those making these threats – have no place in civilised society. 

Unfortunately, they have become commonplace in Malaysia and often little seems to be done by the authorities to stop them and charge them or better, to educate these groups and individuals. 

This inaction or slow reaction by the authorities must change. Threats of violence against law-abiding citizens must be investigated quickly and resolved effectively.

This time around, the threats followed police investigations of a Facebook post by UMANY on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Malaysian politics. 

The UMANY students had every right as citizens to voice their concern and many of us believe they insulted no one, and certainly were not seditious. But the authorities were nonetheless swift in moving against them. 

GERAK believes the police investigation was uncalled for, akin to using a sledgehammer to strike down a fly. 

It is sad and duplicitous that, on the one hand, we urge our students to question and to be critical, yet when they are, as in the case of UMANY, we detain, interrogate and intimidate them.

In any case, UMANY has since taken down the post and apologised.

Now they are being threatened with death and personal injury. These threats of violence must be roundly condemned, investigated, and nipped in the bud. Just as the authorities were quick to detain and question the students, so must they now move just as quickly against those making these threats.

Sadly, often such threats are racially motivated and reflect blind hatred, without the perpetrator showing any sign of understanding what the issues are actually about. 

GERAK believes that this unthinking hatred, reinforced by self-serving politicians and others who should know better, must be strongly countered by everyone concerned, certainly by the authorities and those with influence at every level of Malaysian society. 

Professor Zaharom Nain

GERAK Chairman

Joint Statement: Civil Society Call For An End to Intimidation and Harassment Tactics Against UMANY and Associated Individuals

 https://www.amnesty.my/2020/11/12/civil-society-call-for-an-end-to-intimidation-and-harassment-tactics-against-umany-and-associated-individuals/

We, the undersigned organisations and endorsers, strongly condemn the continued intimidation tactics and acts of harassment being perpetrated by the State and its agencies against Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY) members and student activists linked to the group. We call on the relevant authorities, including Universiti Malaya (UM) and other entities, to stop investigating and questioning these student leaders, and uphold academic freedom and our constitutional right to freedom of expression and free speech.

UMANY is being investigated by both UM and the police over a statement it issued following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s advice that all Members of Parliament should support Budget 2021. Since then, seven members of UMANY, its president and vice-president, as well as two other student leaders, have been called in for questioning. A former UMANY president was also detained overnight for recording a police officer attempting to search the house of an UMANY leader, and will be charged tomorrow under Section 188 of the Penal Code. Meanwhile, the Public Service Department (JPA) has asked for show-cause letters from six JPA-sponsored UMANY members over their purported involvement on the matter. UMANY’s statement has since been retracted.

We are disappointed that the State and its agencies, including the police, continues to arbitrarily stifle freedom of speech and expression in Malaysia, a rising trend that has become apparent since the change of government earlier this year. We wish to remind the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government that freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed for all Malaysians under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, and should not be disproportionately restricted simply because said speech or expression challenges norms or presents critical or alternative views.

The right to express views and ideas freely, without fear of interference or persecution, is an essential part of democracy. Respectful debates and expressions help us examine and critically challenge conventional wisdoms and promote heterodox views. In doing so, we foster a more informative and critical society, one that is able to articulate their own views and alternative views, safely and openly.

We risk spiralling into an undemocratic state if our government continues to censor and restrict speech and expression without due process and at the expense of fundamental civil liberties of its peoples – as is the case with the UMANY investigations. Articulating an academic view based on the Federal Constitution, as was the case in this instance, should not warrant police action. Recording a police search of a student activist’s house also should not result in criminal sanction. The police, despite issuing a statement to clarify their actions in arresting the student activist in question, have failed to justify why taking videos or photographs of police investigations could affect the confidentiality of said investigations.

Furthermore, we do not want to foster an environment which undermines accountability and good governance and where people are prohibited from questioning or criticising the government over public affairs.

Academic scholarship, on the other hand, cannot flourish in an atmosphere of censorship and disproportionate restriction of speech and expression. An open and robust environment for sharing ideas freely is crucial for learning as it allows students to think critically, challenge and engage with different perspectives. Students must remain free to inquire, study and evaluate, and gain new maturity and understanding. The participation of students in intellectual debates concerning the state of affairs of the country, therefore, should be encouraged, not discouraged. Higher education institutions must ensure that they are moulding a thinking society and supporting the promotion of multiple views – not investigating such views.

To that end, we call on the following recommendations to be adopted at once:

1.       The police and UM must, without any delay, drop their respective
investigations into UMANY, its members, former members and associated student leaders, over UMANY’s statement;

2.       JPA should uphold academic freedom and immediately withdraw the demand for show-cause letters from the JPA-sponsored UMANY members over their alleged involvement over the matter;

3.       The relevant authorities must pledge to protect UMANY members who are being harassed, cyberbullied or threatened online over their statement and ensure that those who are making such threats are dealt with in accordance with established international standards and practices, and;

4.       The PN government must ensure that freedom of expression and speech is upheld and protected at all times for all Malaysians by repealing repressive laws used to arbitrarily restrict these freedoms, in particular, the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

12 November 2020

Jointly issued by:
Amnesty International Malaysia
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
Suara Rakyat Masyarakat (SUARAM)

Endorsed by the following civil society organisations:

1.       Agora Society

2.       Aliran

3.       ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)

4.       Beyond Borders Malaysia

5.       Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)

6.       CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation

7.       Community Women and Workers Network (CWWN)

8.       Demokrat UM

9.       EMPOWER Malaysia

10.   ENGAGE

11.   G25 Malaysia

12.   Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)

13.   Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo

14.   Greenpeace Malaysia

15.   Growing Emerging Leaders (GEL)

16.   In Between Cultura

17.   Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)

18.   Johor Yellow Flame (JYF)

19.   Justice for Sisters

20.   Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)

21.   KLSCAH Youth

22.   LLG Cultural Development Centre Berhad

23.   Malaysia Muda

24.   Malaysian Medics International (MMI)

25.   Malaysian Students’ Global Alliance (MSGA)

26.   Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity Foundation (MAJU)

27.   National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE)

28.   North South Initiative (NSI)

29.   Oriental Hearts and Minds Study Institute (OHMSI)

30.   Our Journey

31.   Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

32.   Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (GERAK)

33.   Persatuan Kesedaran dan Keadilan Iklim Malaysia – Klima Action
Malaysia KAMY

34.   Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor & KL (PRIHATIN)

35.   Persatuan Prihatin Masyarakat Lipis

36.   Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia (PROHAM)

37.   Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor

38.   Pertubuhan SiraguGal

39.   Pusat KOMAS

40.   Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)

41.   Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA)

42.   Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (SAWO)

43.   Sarawak Association for Peoples’ Aspirations (SAPA)

44.   Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

45.   Sisters in Islam (SIS)

46.   Society for Equality, Respect And Trust for All Sabah (SERATA)

47.   Student Unity Front UKM

48.   Taiwan Alliance for Thai Democracy

49.   Tanah Dahai

50.   Tenaganita

51.   Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy

52.   Thai Students in Europe for Liberal Democracy

53.   The Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (BERSIH 2.0)

54.   Tindak Malaysia

55.   UM Law Society

56.   Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

57.   Youth Era Malaysia

World Teachers Day & Malaysia Academia Day 2020

 Hari Guru Sedunia & Hari Akademia Malaysia 2020

Sila tuntun video disini.

GERAK di Astro Awani

https://youtu.be/XF6rfEglJ58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF6rfEglJ58#action=share

KEPIMPINAN UNIVERSITI DAN KRISIS COVID19

KENYATAAN MEDIA GERAK

MENGENAI KEPIMPINAN UNIVERSITI DAN KRISIS COVID19

GERAK ingin menarik perhatian tentang arahan penutupan universiti dan tekanan kepada mahasiswa-mahasiswi untuk pulang ke kampung pada 17 Mac 2020 dalam mana suasana sekatan perjalanan dilaksanakan keesokan harinya.

GERAK mendapati banyak kekeliruan yang timbul dengan arahan-arahan yang bertentangan. Ini telah menyebabkan para pelajar kebingungan akibat kepimpinan universiti yang kurang kewibawaan serta kurang proaktif.

Pertama, setelah arahan sekatan perjalanan diumumkan pada 16 Mac yang lalu, yang mana pihak kerajaan mengarahkan semua universiti ditutup. Pelbagai tanggapan salah kemudian wujud yang mana terdapat beberapa universiti yang mengarahkan pelajar untuk pulang ke kampung. Seharusnya apabila arahan tutup diumumkan, pelajar tidak boleh keluar kampus. Mereka hendaklah kembali ke tempat kediaman masing-masing, untuk memenuhi tujuan pengasingan yang dikeluarkan oleh Majlis Keselamatan Negara.

Penutupan universiti bukanlah bermakna pelajar diarah keluar kampus dan balik kampung, dengan berpusu-pusu ke stesen bas, keretapi atau lapangan kapalterbang. Tindakan terburu-buru oleh kepimpinan beberapa universiti amat dikesali kerana menyebabkan peningkatan risiko jangkitan Covid19 di kalangan para pelajar. Risiko ini kemudiannya meningkat apabila Ketua Polis Negara meminta mereka yang ingin melakukan perjalanan selepas jam 12.00 malam pada 17 Mac perlu ada surat kebenaran polis. Ini telah menyebabkan begitu ramai pelajar menyerbu balai-balai polis untuk mendapatkan surat tersebut.

GERAK amat berdukacita terhadap arahan-arahan yang tidak bernas dan membahayakan keselamatan dan nyawa para pelajar yang telah dikeluarkan pada 17 Mac terutamanya oleh pihak pengurusan universiti. Ianya seakan-akan tidak memikirkan implikasi serius yang bakal menimpa para pelajar dan juga orang ramai.

Kedua, GERAK amat kesal bahawa pihak Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (KPT) tidak memberikan garis panduan yang jelas untuk mengendali situasi ini. Dalam suasana sebegini, malangnya, kepimpinan tidak menyerlah langsung. Semua ini mencerminkan ketidaksediaan pihak pemimpin atasan – di KPT dan di universiti-universiti – untuk menghadapi bencana dan kegawatan yang sudah timbul.

Seharusnya pihak Kementerian memberi petunjuk atau garis panduan yang jelas dengan mengendahkan seruan pakar perubatan untuk menenangkan suasana, agar pihak pengurusan univesiti dapat memikirkan cara terbaik untuk menangani masalah dan untuk membantu mengendalikan keadaan. Ini tidak berlaku.

Ketiga, GERAK juga berpendapat pihak perwakilan pelajar patut terlibat dalam operasi ini. Dalam keadaan sebegini, pihak universiti dan mahasiswa seharusnya berbincangan untuk kepentingan bersama, bukan hanya memberi arahan berbentuk top-down yang sesungguhnya tidak menyelesaikan masalah. Universiti adalah satu komuniti. Mahasiswa adalah golongan penting dalam komuniti ini; tiada pelajar, tiada Universiti. Mereka juga paling jelas tentang situasi mereka sendiri .

Keempat, pihak kakitangan akademik harus juga memainkan peranan dalam memberi buah fikiran untuk menangani kemelut yang wujud ini demi kepentingan awam dan kesejahteraan penduduk. Perbincangan mengenai langkah-langkah terbaik untuk dilaksanakan juga perlu digalakkan, apakah sekatan penuh, sekatan separa atau usaha mitigasi yang perlu diutamakan dalam menghadapi serangan Covid19? Pihak pengurusan universiti harus menggunakan kepintaran dan kreativiti mereka sendiri. Bukankah universiti diterajui oleh sarjana-sarjana yang disegani?

GERAK mendesak peristiwa yang penuh dengan keliruan dan membahayakan keselamatan para pelajar tidak lagi berulang. Sekarang, setiap universiti patut sudah ada pelan tindakan untuk menyambut balik para pelajarnya setelah tamat Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan. Dalam keadaan sekarang, pihak pemimpin seharusnya mengunakan kepakaran yang sedia ada dan tidak hanya bertindak dalam kegelapan.

EXCO GERAK

akademikmalaysia@gmail.com

+60166205242

22 Mac 2020

GERAK STATEMENT ON THE SARAWAK-UNIMAS FIASCO

1 January 2020

Academic reform in Sarawak: Is there an issue?

GERAK is dismayed to learn of the resignation of internationally renowned academic Tan Sri Dr Kamal Salih as Chairman of the UNIMAS Board of Directors on 6 January 2020.

Coming almost immediately after his appointment and for the most vexing of reasons, TS Kamal’s resignation does not bode well for tertiary education reforms in Malaysia.

TS Kamal’s resignation is also a double-whammy for reforms since it happened barely days after Dr Maszlee Malik’s resignation as the most reform-minded Minister in the Ministry’s recent history.

This double resignation is a kick in the teeth for the Pakatan Harapan government’s commitment to educational reforms.

Amongst the key tertiary reform priorities of Dr Maszlee when he was Minister of Education was to advance academic freedom and make public higher education institutions – and their managers - more transparent and accountable to the people at large.

TS Kamal was appointed by Dr Maszlee Malik to helm the UNIMAS Board of Directors for three years starting 1 Jan 2020. And evidently he was appointed to advance Dr Maszlee’s vision of academic freedom, public accountability and true intellectual leadership.

Anyone who has seen TS Kamal’s CV will realise that he is no intellectual lightweight or a managerial pushover.

He has a string of academic achievements, is internationally recognised, and set up the highly-reputed International Medical University.

Currently he is Chair of the prestigious and highly-respected Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER).

He is the consummate educational professional who only wanted to contribute his knowledge, expertise and experiences to the country via serving UNIMAS and Sarawak.

Unfortunately, the state government took a petty view of his appointment and voiced exception to the fact that they were not consulted nor was the ‘State Government notified officially’ prior to the announcement of his appointment.

True, this may have always been the ‘process that was adhered to since the appointment of the first Chairman’.

But that was under the previous problematic Barisan Nasional (BN) government - which the current GPS State Government was a staunch coalition partner - that contributed greatly to the current shambolic state of tertiary education in the country.

Today, the GPS State Government is in opposition to the reform-minded PH Federal Government. Also, there is no agreement written in stone about any ‘process’ that obliges the Federal Government to ‘consult’ with the State Government when appointing any Federal Government senior civil servant to lead reforms in a Federal institution in Sarawak.

That the GPS state government saw fit to play up its State Rights vs Federal Government authority only reflects their lack of hesitation in continuing to stir divisive politics merely to advance the electoral prospects of their GPS coalition.

Regrettably, all done at the expense of quality higher education in Sarawak.

Rejecting experience, knowledge and international recognition purely on the basis of this pettiness undermines the reform efforts of the PH Federal government to improve tertiary education in Malaysia and, in this case, Sarawak.

GERAK therefore calls upon the acting Minister, Tun Mahathir, to hold firm to professional reform efforts and to appoint an accomplished academic and internationally-recognised professional to Chair the UNIMAS Board of Directors.

Time is running out for the country to reform its tertiary educational institutions.

Now is not the time for the Federal Government to condone counter-productive political games, or for the Sarawak state government to reject sound professionals from throughout Malaysia to serve in UNIMAS on the basis of divisive political sentiments.

GERAK EXCO
11 January 2020

Consider This: Education Reform - Policy Continuity or Shift?

http://www.astroawani.com/video-malaysia/consider-education-reform-policy-continuity-or-shift-1827022

The Malaysian Academic Movement (GERAK) has weighed in on the surprise resignation of Education Minister, reminding the public of its own 10-point proposal for reform and even suggesting individuals to replace Maszlee Malik. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Zaharom Naim, Chairperson of GERAK for their take on the challenges of education reform.

Gerak Media Statement on UNIMAP Vice Chancellor's Response to the Ethnic Relations Examination Paper

5 January 2020

GERAK is appalled at the statement  by Dr. R Badlishah Ahmad, the Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP) regarding the controversy arising from multiple choice questions set in UNIMAP’s Ethnic Relations examination paper.

GERAK had earlier pointed out that, for an unnecessary question (Q60) set about the Indian preacher-on-the-run, Zakir Naik, both the question and the answers provided were badly and narrowly constructed, and not appropriate for a module that is designed to further inter-ethnic understanding.  Indeed, the opposite was true.

The UNIMAP VC then said an investigation would be conducted.

This latest rambling statement after the `investigation’ ' is nothing but a complete and clumsy of the whole sordid affair.

Let us remember that since that question was exposed, at least another racist and anthropologically ignorant question from the same paper has been unearthed and reported.

This, GERAK believes, is not simply  an `oversight’ or things related to the syllabus. Such `explanations’ are simply untenable.

And the UNIMAP VC surely knows this. If he doesn’t, he needs to be schooled. Or he may volunteer to step down to be replaced by someone who knows what constitutes the public good.

We, unfortunately, are now living within a toxic environment of racial supremacy and religious bigotry. These need to be fought against and greater understanding and respect fostered.

That is the spirit of the Ethnic Relations module. It doesn’t require a PhD or a VC’s position to know that.

Instead, in his statement, the UNIMAP VC conveniently asserts  that the vetting of the questions in the examination paper followed proper procedures, is in line with the syllabus of the module, and that the controversial question was discussed in class.

The fact is, any two-bit lecturer can `discuss in class’, controlling and moving the discussion towards a particular direction and, unsurprisingly, indoctrinating rather than questioning.

In any case, to further muddy the issue, in his statement, the VC says that UNIMAP will in future ensure all multiple choice questions will be restricted to theory and facts only.

This is essentially a stock, evasive statement that is irresponsible and problematic because it does not address the root problem underpinning the controversy, i.e., the blinkered question and narrow range of answers that were provided. This clearly relates to the way this module is being taught.

The VC's statement thus altogether avoids responding to the main issue at hand, i.e. "why were such insulting and stupid questions along with incorrect and restrictive answers allowed in the university exam paper?"

GERAK thus demands  a thorough INDEPENDENT review of the way this Ethnic Relations module is taught at UNIMAP, indeed in all our universities.

Is what is currently being taught in line with the objectives and spirit of the module?

While GERAK respects academic autonomy in the lecture room, such autonomy must be placed within the context of rigorous scholarship that avoids the ideological and cultural biases that were undoubtedly demonstrated in this controversy.

Clearly UNIMAP and other publicly-funded universities need to review their approaches to the  Ethnic Relations module to ensure it fulfils the national agenda of helping students appreciate the cultural diversity that makes up Malaysian society.

And to respect such diversity.

GERAK EXCO

Gerak media statement on Dr. Maszlee Malik

3 January 2020

GERAK is not a fair weather friend. Hence, we find it sad and extremely unfortunate that the first working day of the new year was marred by the resignation announcement of the most approachable and reformist Education Minister for a long time, Dr Maszlee Malik.

We came out in support of Dr Maszlee when he was first appointed minister and, despite having often been openly critical of some of his decisions, we stand by him at this juncture.

Dr Maszlee, who steps down today (3 Jan), clearly understood the mess Malaysia’s higher education system had been dragged into and the tough decisions that needed to be made.

Ironically, much of the worthwhile strategies and policies he designed or helped to design and implement only at school level are now suddenly being highlighted by the media.

This is the same media that virtually hounded him throughout his short tenure, ridiculing and vilifying him, without bothering to look deeper into what he was doing.

This is the same media – and the vocal pseudo-liberals, the pseudo-progressives, even conservatives – wanting to sensationalise rather than analyse. What strange but convenient bedfellows.

Be that as it may, GERAK’s concern and purpose here is to outline and acknowledge three main initiatives that Dr Maszlee had put in motion for higher education over the past 20 months. And, perhaps, propose the way forward.

First, based on a genuine concern for academic freedom and autonomy, Dr Maszlee set into motion the dismantling of the much-criticised and abused University and University Colleges Act (UUCA).

Having quickly plucked the low-hanging fruit in the Act – hence allowing undergraduates to formally discuss politics on campuses – Maszlee then set up a multi-stakeholder technical committee. Together with independent outside consultants the committee has been hard at work to repeal the UUCA and also Act 605. A repeal is being targeted for later this year.

Many outside academia are unaware that Act 605 is the main act that virtually muzzles Malaysian academics. Under the Act, university academics even need permission to praise the government!

Second, under his tenure a new, independent committee for the selection of public university Vice Chancellors was set up in mid-2019.

This is in line with GERAK’s call for the abolishment of political appointments of top university posts and the implementation of independent selection procedures.

As expected, this has not gone smoothly, largely due to resistance by the incumbents, who have used the old standard practice of garnering the support of powerful individuals and institutions outside academia.

Nonetheless, the procedures have been put in place to replace these old, politically-linked and feudal ways. It is now up to all parties concerned to make sure the system works for the betterment of Malaysian public universities.

Third, Dr Maszlee also set up an independent Integrity Committee, outside the confines and possible constraints of the Ministry, to investigate cases of fraud and malpractices within universities.

It is never easy to conduct such investigations, since, more often than not, complaints and allegations need to be backed with solid evidence.

And, given the nature of previously-BN controlled institutions, deep-rooted, bad habits and practices are difficult to unravel, let alone destroy.

Such, indeed, has been the case with all these three initiatives begun by Dr Maszlee.

It is easy to vilify the individual without having much information. It is equally easy to blame the individual, without looking at the existing system and the foot-dragging and other forms of resistance employed by those not happy with reforms.

Dr Maszlee, we believe was trust into an extremely visible and demanding ministry. He was virtually caught between a rock and a hard place, torn between a desire for reform and the narrower political demands of the party.

But for what he’s done despite this, GERAK offers our thanks.

That having been said, in looking ahead, GERAK proposes three possibilities for higher education in Malaysia.

First, the formal splitting up of the Ministry into two ministries; a Ministry for non-tertiary education, formulating strategies and policies for education from the nursery to secondary school levels.

And a separate ministry for tertiary education. Here a ministerial position for Dr Maszlee could be possible, indeed advantageous, given the initiatives he had begun during his tenure.

Modern formal education is too complex and complicated to be lumped together under one ministry.

Second, GERAK believes the depoliticisation of education is necessary, to make us more equipped to face a fast changing, challenging world.

Hence, while many are clamouring for the appointment of faded and fake degree politicians as the next Education Minister, GERAK would propose just two names – K.S. Jomo and Sham Sani.

Both are intellectual giants who have had vast experience in academia. Both, we are confident, can remove deadwood and political and religious lackeys and bring forth genuine reform.

Third, that whoever takes over as the next minister looks seriously at GERAK’s original 10-point proposal for reform and continues with the process that Dr Maszlee had started.

GERAK EXCO