[07:50, 15/01/2021] Noraishah Um: JOINT STATEMENT BY PKAUM, KMUM, DEMOKRAT UM, GERAKAN PEMBEBASAN AKADEMIK (GPA), HARMONI MALAYSIA, ANGKATAN MAHASISWA UM AND UMANY IN RESPONSE TO THE 222 PhD HOLDERS STATING THEIR SUPPORT OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN MALAYSIA
PKAUM, KMUM, Demokrat, GPA, HARMONI Malaysia, Angkatan Mahasiswa and UMANY are distressed by the statement in support of the state of emergency issued by the 222, intimating their intellectual superiority over other Malaysians on the basis of possessing a PhD qualification. In as much as the notion of freedom of expression is valued and held sacred by us, it is regrettable that the recent support of the 222 Pintar PhD holders has introduced a new division in this beloved country of ours.
A division of those with academic doctoral degrees apart from those with lesser or with no academic credentials whatsoever. This is indeed an alarming development in a country already torn apart along racial, economic and religious divides. We would like to remind every learned citizen of the important role they must play as the conscience of the nation. PhD holders working as academicians carry the heavy burden as bearer of the torch of hope based upon knowledge. The job of academicians is NOT to curry favours in exchange for promotion and career advancement. Instead what we see is a continuation and increase in numbers of sycophancy which began in March 2020.
In these troubling and difficult times that the country is facing, it is paramount and most imperative for bright individuals and scholars to focus on studying, reasoning, developing and proposing solutions to take us out of the current dire straits thus elevating the country to a better condition for the benefit of each Malaysian. Who is in a better position to do so, other than those who have been trained to perform scholastic research, the degree the PhD was awarded for? Working together with everyone, including those without academic credentials but possessing the necessary experiences within all the relevant industries and sectors, positive proposals are most welcomed rather than harping on forlorn conclusions which are of no benefit, academically nor practically.
The Honourable Prime Minister has assured us that our lives will hardly be disrupted if we do not interfere with the running of our current government. Yet, the most vulnerable amongst the citizens of Malaysia bear the brunt of the consequences. Disabled children in Malaysia, both citizens and immigrants, are particularly at risk. They are currently denied their much-needed therapy during the MCO. Other vulnerable population include, those who suffer from chronic illnesses, the victims of the current floods, the women who are trapped at home suffering violence from perpetrators, the children who are unable to gain access to appropriate education, the workers who will lose more income during this emergency, the common person on the street who are all affected by the adverse effects on the economy.
During a state of emergency, Parliament is not allowed to convene. The academics should therefore instead produce feasible solutions on how best to propel the economy further during this emergency, i.e. be the brains for the various possible solutions to protect our vulnerable population and help to rebuild our beloved nation. Therefore, the issue should not be nor should it revolve around the next General Election. In fact, academicians should be advocating for the people of the country and not the nation's politicians. The issue should be how do we save our beloved country from the scourge of Covid19 with the least disruption to the lives of the most hard-hit amongst the citizens of Malaysia.
The Declaration of the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia published on the 10th of November 2020 clearly stipulated that a transparent middle path would be best for Malaysia in overcoming the Covid19 scourge. We urge all academicians to do their jobs as effectively as possible and refrain from further ambiguous activities that will further mar the country's reputation globally. Let us all work together, hand in hand across all divides, to find solutions, beneficial to everyone.
Secretary General
Academic Association of Universiti Malaya (PKAUM) 2020/2022
President
Universiti Malaya Students’ Union (KMUM) 2020/2021
Koordinator
Demokrat Universiti Malaya
President
UMANY
Chairperson
Gerakan Pembebasan Akademik
Presiden
Persatuan Belia HARMONI Malaysia
Chairman
Angkatan Mahasiswa UM
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please provide your name and affiliation