BUKIT Bendera member of Parliament Syerleena Abdul Rashid has taken to task political leaders who resort to fear-mongering tactics, thus effectively dumbing down the populace for political gain.

In a statement today, Syerleena named Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh as one such leader who continues to assault intellectualism in Malaysia.

“The controversy surrounding Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) is a prime example of anti-intellectualism in action.

“When Malaysiakini columnist Andrew Sia criticised UiTM, Dr Akmal hastily called for action against Sia.

“This exemplifies how such leaders target intellectuals who challenge institutional practices or policies.

“Instead of engaging in constructive debate, the response was to vilify the critic, discouraging open discussion and intellectual scrutiny,” she said.

The first-term MP said the political motivations behind such tactics are clear – for these leaders to maintain their grip on power by controlling the narrative and keeping the population compliant.

She said that educated citizens, equipped with the ability to think critically, are seen as a threat because they are more likely to question decisions and demand accountability.

“Moreover, fear-mongering tactics are employed to distract the public from critical issues like the declining quality of our public education system, economic mismanagement and social inequality.

“By emphasizing external threats or internal divisions to create a sense of crisis, these leaders are able to position themselves as necessary protectors, thereby consolidating their power and controlling the political narrative, no matter how absurd it may be.

“When political leaders undermine education and intellectualism, they sabotage the nation’s future, preventing us from reaching our full potential,” she added.

She said that Malaysians must combat the spread of misinformation by nurturing a culture of critical thinking and fostering informed discussions within our communities.

In recent days, Umno leaders and others have defended UiTM’s status as a bumi-only educational institution after calls were made for the university to open its cardiothoracic surgery programme for others.

Akmal has also focused his attack on Sia who had labelled UiTM as an “apartheid academy”.

In his column, Sia had criticised a protest by UiTM’s student council against calls to admit non-Bumiputera students to the university’s cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme.

Police are investigating Sia over his opinion piece for allegedly intentionally insulting to provoke a breach of the peace under the Penal Code, and the alleged use of insulting words under the Minor Offences Act. – May 25, 2024.