KUALA LUMPUR – The Higher Education Ministry remains firm in its stand that it is unacceptable to make statements laced with racism, according to its minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
He said this in response to Teresa Kok (Seputeh-PH), who had asked about the ministry’s decision regarding lecturers who, despite their supposed role in promoting unity among students, make racist statements.
Zambry clarified that discussions within academic contexts should be distinguished from those taking place outside academia.
“We need to differentiate between matters discussed by a lecturer and those by a commoner, whether in academic context or just a mere statement. In the academic world, debates revolve around subjects related to their respective backgrounds.
“It also means that non-academics who disagree need to present their arguments in an academic context.
“However, ‘sweeping statements’ are not acceptable,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
It was reported that an investigation paper has been opened against emeritus professor Datuk Teo Kok Seong, who is also a fellow with the National Council of Professors, following his recent controversial statement regarding vernacular schools.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the investigation was being conducted under Section 505 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Teo has been accused of making racist statements via a TikTok video claiming that Chinese national-type schools spread racial sentiments against Malays.
Following that, Kok urged police to investigate Teo regarding the matter and also questioned why he was not being investigated just as the police had with DAP leaders such as Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang and Tony Pua.
Answering a supplementary question posed by Hulu Terengganu MP Datuk Rosol Wahid, who asked if the government would follow the Sarawak state government in recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), Zambry said: “Yes, the (Sarawak) government has accepted and recognised the UEC; the federal government has not recognised it.”
The recognition of the UEC has consistently sparked debate.
The United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) has also previously said the curriculum at private Chinese secondary schools (SMPC), including for the subject of history, was drafted based on the Standard Curriculum and Evaluation Document issued by the Education Ministry.
The curriculum also includes the national language as a compulsory subject, in line with the Federal Constitution, the Rukun Negara, and the diversity of education in the country, it argued. – March 13, 2024