STUDENTS in the country are free to express their views, including criticising the government, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

He said this is to ensure that they acquire critical thinking skills, in addition to creating a better learning atmosphere.

Anwar said he had also conveyed the matter to Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

“They have also opened up the space and opportunity, especially the Higher Education Ministry, so that the university is more conducive in terms of allowing points of view to be expressed, with the exception of things that are insulting, racist in nature, or extreme religious beliefs,” he told reporters after attending the ceremony to hand over contributions to the AbuSulayman International Student Fund (AISF) at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Apart from that, they are given the freedom to criticise the prime minister, the government.”

Earlier, Anwar, in his speech, said Malaysia’s educational institutions should depart from the outmoded manner in which students are restricted from exercising their rights to be critical.

He said schools and universities must allow criticism based on facts and reasons to nurture creativity and critical minds among students.

“But it must be on condition, they don’t take things easy, criticism must be through reasonable discourse,” he said.

“It means you have to have the understanding, you have to learn and view other criticisms before you lend yours.”

At the ceremony, Anwar, who is also the former president of IIUM, witnessed the handing over of additional funds for AISF from the family of the second rector of IIUM, the late Prof Emeritus Abdul Hamid Abu Sulayman.

IIUM rector Emeritus Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak and Sterling Management Group president and CEO Yaqub Mirza were also present.

A contribution of US$300,000 (RM1.3 million) was handed over to Dzulkifli to help international students from various countries who are less fortunate and need financial assistance in the form of a living allowance. – Bernama, February 11, 2023.