A LAW governing statutory bodies will be reviewed to protect academic freedom in public universities and colleges, says Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
The Higher Education Minister said this is since higher education institutions are classified as statutory bodies under the Statutory Bodies (Discipline and Surcharge) Act 2000 (Act 605).
For example, Article 18 of the Act, which stipulates the dos and don’ts of statutory bodies, he said. “A meeting was held to find out why the academic fraternity is faced with such situations, and found the biggest obstacle to be Act 605.
“I have also asked for the Act to be reviewed where public universities are granted leeway despite being statutory bodies,” he said during Minister Question Time yesterday.
“I am working towards this so that academics are not afraid of conveying their views.”
He was responding to a question by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota) who asked about the ministry’s measures to ensure that university staff are not barred from issuing public statements.
Saifuddin was referring to an Oct 8 circular by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), which barred its staff from talking about public policy.
Although UKM clarified that its staff and faculty members were not barred from expressing themselves, the circular was criticised for suppressing academic freedom.
