ACADEMICS have maintained that the Education Ministry should not interfere in Universiti Malaysia Perlis’ (UniMAP) handling of a controversial ethnic relations examination paper.

This is important to preserve the spirit of varsity autonomy – as promoted by the ministry – for the common good of the country’s institutions of higher learning, they said.

“We can’t have it both ways,” Professor Zaharom Nain of Nottingham University Malaysia told The Malaysian Insight.

“Centralised control, with the ministry having the final say, may seem fine with an enlightened and progressive ministry, led by a progressive government.

“But what if it’s the other way around, as it was for many decades under the Barisan Nasional regime?

“Yes, it can get messy, especially if universities are led by irresponsible people, with dubious, perhaps even racist and separatist, agendas.”

On what can be done if UniMAP does not take further action, he said only then should the ministry “swing into action, to investigate the matter”.

For the short term, he said, there are at least two ways to address the problem.

Zaharom said the education minister could order the ministry’s integrity or governance unit, together with Malaysian Qualifications Agency officers, to fully investigate the issue, and come up with measures to correct whatever wrongdoing that may have been committed.

“Secondly, the minister appoints an investigative committee, made up of outside academics, civil society members and industry representatives, to oversee the matter, empowered by the minister to leave no stone unturned and to come up with concrete measures to stop more of such problems.”

He said for the long term, some academics, especially those from the Malaysian Academic Movement, have proposed a way around this.

“Firstly, set up a council of respected, independent, unimpeachable scholars.

“Secondly, this council will form search committees to seek the best candidates – locally, regionally, internationally – to helm our universities.

“And thirdly, get rid of the current crop of university heads – even problematic and non-performing management boards, for that matter – and replace them with candidates who have been properly sourced, not those appointed through the old boy network.”

He said such reforms will not happen overnight, acknowledging that they will be met with resistance.

But, he added, the struggle is well worth it.

Research fellow Haris Zuan of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute of Malaysian and International Studies said there is good indication that the Education Ministry will not interfere.

He cautioned, however, that it does not necessarily mean universities can simply do whatever they want, adding that the 1970s idea for a university charter should be revived.

“Universities must have their own councils that are governed based on a charter with clear principles. Whatever contravenes these principles must be addressed by an inter-university council, and not by the ministry.

“This system is consonant with the spirit of autonomy of institutions of higher learning.”

What is more important than the ministry’s non-interference in university governance is varsity accountability, which can be achieved through university democratisation, he said.

“University denizens, including students, must be given the opportunity and right to choose and evaluate the administration’s performance, whether at the faculty or university level.

“Unless this power to choose is granted, it is wrong for the ministry not to get involved in the name of autonomy.

“This is because without accountability towards the university council and campus denizens, the university administration can do anything under the cover of autonomy.”

Concurring with Zaharom and Haris, Dr Azmil Yayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said the ministry is right in not wanting to block varsity autonomy, because “it becomes a slippery slope once the ministry starts to interfere with university affairs when it comes to what is permissible to be taught and discussed in the classroom or asked during exams”.

“We have seen this happening during BN’s time, and it is a gross violation of academic freedom. Nevertheless, autonomy must be complemented with responsibility.

“The university does not have carte blanche to do whatever it likes, especially when it infringes on the rights of others, and espouses an exclusionary ideology that divides its multiethnic and multireligious student body.

“Therefore, the university’s main responsibility is to foster a learning culture that promotes critical thinking, inclusiveness and a safe space for a diversity of views to coexist, especially the ones that are marginalised.”

He believes it is not wrong to have a question on the Mumbai-born Zakir, “but let it be in the form of an argumentative essay question, where students can debate the pros and cons of Malaysia hosting the controversial preacher, for instance”.

“The university must also conduct a regular audit of its courses and departments to ensure that they are in line with values that promote inclusiveness, empathy and critical thinking.

“University autonomy is integral to academic freedom, and it must be exercised responsibly within the context of the collective interests of the nation.”

Dr Christopher Chong of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman disagrees with the non-interference move.

The ministry should intervene and ensure all varsities, particularly those that receive public funds, get the message that they have to be accountable, he said.

“Autonomy means responsibility to the accepted standards of scholarship and the acceptance of criticism where appropriate, particularly by other academics.” – January 1, 2020.