What Is Academia Sans Academic Freedom And Institutional Autonomy?

Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak 
Opinion - Bacalah Malaysia 
November 4, 2024 

Progress and advancements in education require the protection of academic freedom and the right to think, question, and share ideas freely, no matter how complex and protracted.  

Transformative education is critical in shaping a better world by fulfilling pivotal roles relating to global and existential issues in countering local and global crises. 

Therefore, academic freedom and institutional autonomy is imperative as the foundation to safeguard academic communities and the academe worldwide against repressions, and oppressing student and staff opinions.

For example, by asserting threats over curriculum and resources as fundamental inputs to democracy and learning.

After all, academic freedom is very central for the advances of peace and other human endeavours. It is essential to the functioning of civilisation with an independent judiciary, a free press, and thriving sustainable community.

These must also be interconnected so as to produce long-lasting, impactful outcomes within a balanced educational approach at all levels of learning. 

Given the above, the recent incident where one of more established universities in the country saw it fit to issue a ‘warning’ circular, dated October 8, that threatened academic freedom and institutional autonomy makes a bizarre story. 

Although there have been several ‘unspoken’ rules about how universities need to behave against the power that be, the blatant circular is another ‘unthinking act’ altogether. For a long time, the on-again, off-again stance on the matter has been viewed as a circus where various episodes called for much laughter nationwide.

And the most recent one is no different. For a start, very quickly the same university reportedly withdrew the circular on the gag order, and negated its content. 

Instead, reiterated that free speech is tolerated if… . This comes about after several criticisms from the academic circles and members of the public expressing their ultimate concerns. One active and vocal local organisation said the actions taken have made the university involved to appear “rather stupid.”

Conversely, it called for the academic community to be exempted from the related Statutory Bodies, Act 2000 (Discipline and Surcharge).

In 2019, it was claimed that similar attempt was made but in vain in landing  something concrete in eliminating Act 605 to ensure a lasting academic autonomy. Let alone to revise the entire framework back to the days it once was, minimally, the pre-1970s! 

Indeed, a former deputy minister of Education (2008-2013), said that the unfortunate circular has yet weakened the basic principle for academic freedom. He added that academic members have the role to play as the custodian of the society, while taking actions to ensure its rights.

And rekindle the “soul” by acting as public intellectuals. It was during his time that the idea of “Parliamen Mahasiswa” was implemented as the training ground to educate students, rather than gagging them as future leaders based on justice, equity and fairness. Still another minister of higher education facilitated the establishment of an APEX university in the north. 

Unfortunately, in most other cases, they are mere lip-services. The reasons for these could be many folds. One obvious reason is the fact Malaysia held the record in adopting the steepest power distance in the world. Meaning to say top leaders rarely get in touch with their subordinates down the line. 

If they do it could be lackadaisical in nature. In fact, we have seen how such an episode proceeded where a student was treated very poorly in public after the latter posed a legitimate question on education. One shudders to imagine what would be the case behind closed door!

Another reason could be associated to the tabling of the Budget 2025, about 10 days after the gag order.

Purportedly, as a reminder “just before a major fiscal announcement,”according to one analysis, preferring not to engage in meaningful discourse with those in power and be accountable.

Some recalled the days of the 1MDB scandal in stonewalling as much discourse as possible. 

My hunch however, is “the culture of fear” that have been prevailing to stifle any form of courage to speak truth to power. For example, by resurrecting Act 605, intentionally or otherwise, goes a sure sign that all is not well in putting the much touted “governance” (read, tatakelola) in its rightful place.

The academia after all is littered with “real” reminders since way back, whenever academics had their contracts or terms shortened especially following some political “maneuvers,” related to apparent changes in “leadership” leaning, especially in weaker positions.

Hence, there were also cases of clandestine pressures with the promise of “nasty” outcomes.

All these are invariably  unheard off in matured democratic educational ecosystems.

If it happened, it took place without sacrificing due process and transparency as illustrated in the the alleged pro-Palestinian Solidarity Movement involving several Ivy universities being aired worldwide.

In other words, the worth of an academia it neatly linked to question of ethics, honesty as well as trustworthiness in action beyond just abstract jargons. Without full autonomy, freedom and authenticity, academia ceased to be ‘one’.  — BACALAHMALAYSIA.MY

• The writer is former Rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)