Gov't to resurrect professors council, wants it to be ‘truly independent’

PARLIAMENT | Deputy de facto law minister Mohamed Hanipa Maidin told the Dewan Rakyat today that the government will be re-establishing the professors' council, stressing that it will function as a “truly politically independent” body.

In response to a question from Rusnah Aluai (Harapan-Tangga Batu) asking if retrenched National Council of Professors (NPC) staff would be helped to get new jobs, Hanipa revealed that a similar council will be established under a new name and mandate.

“Seeing that the government has agreed to re-create an NPC under a new name, I believe your suggestion has been taken into account by the government.

“We really hope to create a professors council that is truly independent, that can truly be of help to the government.

“We don’t want them to be spokespersons who campaign for the government. That is not the council’s role,” he said, adding that the decision was made on Nov 2.

Back in May, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that the NPC would be axed.

Hanipa explained that the decision was made due to its members blatantly stating their support for the former BN regime.

“I want to quote an example. One of the NPC professors had said (in the media) that people who sully Malaysia’s name overseas by working together and plotting with the US Department of Justice can be charged with the death penalty under the Penal Code,” he told the Dewan.

With the resurrection of the council, the deputy minister said professors who were members would be required to be nonpartisan.

“We don’t encourage those who support Pakatan Harapan (to join), because we really want it to be independent,” he later said in response to a question from RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong).

Hanipa also explained that the decision to re-establish the council was made after several NPC members sent a memorandum to the government urging it to reconsider its decision. - Mkini