Present your case against Rome Statute at forum, Patriot tells academics

Ragananthini Vethasalam Ragananthini Vethasalam Updated 7 years ago · Published on 22 Apr 2019 11:32AM · 5 Comments

Patriot president Brig-Jen (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji says the 4 academics who had advised the Malay rulers against the Rome Statute should argue their stand at a public forum on the matter. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, April 22, 2019.

THE four academics who had advised the Malay rulers against the Rome Statute should present their stand at an upcoming forum on the topic on Saturday, said the National Patriots’ Association (Patriot).

“If they can present an executive summary to the Malay rulers in private, they should also be brave enough to debate on the issue in an open forum,” the group’s president Brig-Jen (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji told reporters at a press conference.

In expressing his disappointment, Arshad said the academics should be able to defend their academic integrity and accountability by presenting their case at the Rome Statute Forum on April 27.

“Patriot is disappointed that the four academics that penned a secret memorandum to the Malay rulers have either not responded to the invitation to participate or declined the invitation to present their views at the forum.”

Patriot said it agrees with the Malaysian Academic Movement’s (Gerak) call to the four academics to defend themselves at the forum at Universiti Malaya.

The group said the four lecturers have refused to respond to criticisms and calls to defend their stance, sparking concerns of academic integrity and accountability.

The forum on the Rome Statute will held at Universiti Malaya on Saturday.

So far, five speakers have confirmed their attendance, including Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and constitutional law expert Prof Shad Saleem Faruqi.

The forum is organised by a group of nine student activists who leaked the executive summary of a paper on the Rome Statute that four academics presented to the Conference of Rulers.

The paper was against Malaysia ratifying the treaty that will make the country party to the International Criminal Court.

Putrajaya blames that report for its decision to backtrack from ratifying the Rome Statute.

Patriots committee member Ahmad Ghazali said if the academics were confident in their research, they should defend their findings to public.

“Was their advice given to their majesties made with sincerity, and the research they conducted was guided by untainted principle of academic integrity?

“With no ulterior motive but to provide their majesties with the best expert advice for their majesties to consider?”.

He said flaws in the research have been pointed out.

Ghazali said if the four academics are not willing to come forward they should accept the assertion that their actions were politically motivated and maliciously intended.

“At Patriot, we view the act of wilfully and maliciously deceiving their majesties, especially when it carries with it the dangerous implication of causing possible unrest in the country as an act of treason.”

“It is therefore incumbent upon these four to apologise to their majesties and the people of Malaysia.

“As their integrity has now been questioned they should also seriously reconsider their positions as academics.

The future (of Malaysia youth) simply cannot he entrusted to these people.” – April 22, 2019.

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Comments

  • When and where is the forum?

    Posted 7 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply

  • What about the fat boy who wears yellow? Cakap besar tapi hati tikis!

    Posted 7 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • The four academics are zealously living on the analogy of " cowards run away to fight another day ". Sadly they have forgotten that it is an end game where batlle lines are drawn for full annihilation. They have themselve made cheap on their title of Professorship and the rest of the Malay Professorson in the country as well. They have willingly belittle their Race , Agama, Ketuanan , Intelleigence and a full insult to the Royal household by their devious intent to misled. They have placed the Royal Household in a dilema with a preditcament that will not be view well by rakyat.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • It is very puzzling the almighty listeners were taken in.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Chicken poops too chicken to debate in the open

    Posted 7 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply