Ramasamy: Don’t punish UM, expect heads to roll for allowing talk by controversial US academician Gilley

 

ALL academic programmes associated with US academician Bruce Gilley have been cancelled in University Malaya (UM).

Recently, the professor of political science at Portland State University in the US spoke on the topic of Malaysia as a rising middle power.

In his speech, Gilley said it would be difficult for Malaysia to aspire for middle power given the country’s low level of relationship with the US.

Furthermore, he noted that Malaysia cannot aspire to be one when it is “pushing for a second holocaust against the Jews in the state of Israel”.

While it was certainly alright for Gilley to take a critical look at the aspirations of Malaysia to be a middle power, there was necessity to say its leaders are pushing for the collective elimination of the Jews, something that happened in Germany under the dictator Adolf Hitler.

The statement of Food and Agriculture Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Sabu calling for the elimination of Israel might have been taken out of context. The anger over the treatment of the Palestinians was not an indication of calling for the holocaust against Jews.

Datuk Seri Mohd Sabu (Image credit: Bernama)

Going overboard

Although I am no fan of Malaysian foreign policy, there is no evidence to say that the country has intention to collectively and collaterally destroy the nation of Israel or call for genocide against the Jews. Moreover, Malaysia is not the only country that is highly critical of the Zionist policies in the state of Israel.

In recent years, many countries have registered their strong protests against the high-handed genocidal policies of the Zionist regime in Israel, including the public in the US.

However, apart from its incessant protests against the state of Israel, Malaysia has not come forward to pursue the two-state solution for the eventual settlement of the Palestinian issue.

This might be the weakness of Malaysia especially that of the unity government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar might have been very vocal on the Palestinian struggle for their emancipation but unfortunately, he has not been taken seriously by the super powers like the US.

Malaysians in general are seeking justice for the Palestinians who are long accustomed to captivity in their homeland.

I have not come across evidence of Malaysia asking for the extermination of the state of Israel. What we want is the long overdue justice for the Palestinians.

Seeking justice for the Palestinians is not the same as seeking the extermination of the Jewish nation. The horrors of the first holocaust are fresh in the minds of Malaysians. Why would the country seek another holocaust? It makes no sense at all.

Academician Gilley must have certainly gone overboard in saying that Malaysia is seeking the annihilation of the Jews. This is clearly unacceptable and outright rude. UM had been directed to cancel all his programmes.

Engagement is best policy

Anyway, it has been reported that Gilley has taken down his controversial and unsavoury post. He has also apologised to his friends in the university for making life difficult for them. Latest news is that he has left the country, claiming it was not safe for him.

However, the demand by the former minister of education Maszlee Malik for the Higher Education Ministry to punish/sack those responsible for allowing the talk by Gilley is not acceptable. As the former education minister himself, he ought to know the importance of free exchanges of ideas even if they are controversial.

A warning to those involved in organising the Gilley talks at UM might be all that is necessary.

Let us not bother the present Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kader as he had little or no experience in the management of academic matters.

Let the university authorities deal with the matter in an amicable manner without interfering in with the principle of open discussion and exchange of ideas.

I quite agree with political observer Prof Tajuddin Rasdi that controversial talks by academicians are common in universities. Tajuddin remarked that there have been controversial talks and presentations in the public universities before.

I would have preferred local academicians to have taken the opportunity to engage with Gilley on the matter of the “extermination of the Jews”. Such an exchange of ideas will be more beneficial to the country.

Let this incident pass by because further squeeze on the academia is something that should be avoided in the country.

 

Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia