THE Education Ministry’s Higher Education Department is expecting an explanation from Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) over a question in an examination paper on controversial Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik.

However, in the department’s statement today, issued by the office of its director-general, there is no mention about any action against UniMAP.

This is because under the concept of university autonomy, each institution is responsible for its own academic affairs, the statement said.

“UniMAP is to give an explanation about this.

“Each university has its own Internal and External Quality Assurance System. Each university’s academic committee, as well as its university Senate, is responsible for the institution’s academic standards.

“Based on the concept of university autonomy, the department will not interfere in academic issues. We hold to the concept of autonomy with accountability,” it said in the statement.

The question, which had appeared in the Ethnic Relations paper for the final examination in the first semester, described Zakir as an icon of the Islamic world who has done much to propagate Islam.

The question then asks students why he has been prohibited from preaching in Malaysia.

The multiple choice answers listed are: 

“A) Malaysians do not bother; 

B) Sensitive Malaysians feel threatened for no reason; 

C) Malaysians are naturally sensitive without reason; and, 

D) Malaysians are ignorant about their own religion.”

The issue came to light after a photograph of the question along with the answers were uploaded on social media last week.

The higher education department said it noted the controversy the question had caused, and said there were also other “sensitive” questions in the paper that touched on lesbian, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT), as well as Jawi writing.

It said the institution was ultimately answerable to students and the public.

The department will, however, monitor and judge a university through other “metrics”, which it said included the quality and employability of its graduates and the institution’s impact on industry and society 

Meanwhile, UniMAP’s Vice-Chancellor Dr R. Badlishah Ahmad admitted that both the question and multiple choice answers given were inappropriate.

“I’m still gathering more information about this. But in general, this question and the accompanying answers were inappropriate,” Badlishah told The Malaysian Insight today.

He declined to comment further and said to wait for the university to complete its probe into the matter.

“We will discuss this issue and the details will be made known later.”

MIC vice president C Sivarraajh had highlighted the exam question on his Facebook, questioning UniMAP for allowing it.

“I cannot understand why questions that do not respect racial sensitivity (are) produced as an examination question for a subject intended to improve students’ understanding of the different races and religions.

“I hope the UniMAP management will come forward to verify and explain the matter,” Sivarraajh said.

Indian national Zakir is wanted in his home country for alleged money laundering, hate speech and inciting acts of terrorism.

He currently resides in Malaysia, which granted him permanent residency under the previous Barisan Nasional government.

Following remarks made about Malaysian Hindus at a ceramah earlier this year, he was barred from preaching and has been investigated by the police for his statements. – December 30, 2019.