KUALA LUMPUR – The US Embassy in Malaysia has distanced itself from remarks made by controversial US academician Bruce Gilley regarding the country’s suitability for travel.
The embassy contradicted Gilley’s assertions about Malaysia being unsafe for visitors, affirming that it remains a safe destination.
“There is no change to the US travel advisory, which remains at Level 1, the lowest level out of four,” it said in a brief statement.
Level 1 represents the lowest advisory level for safety and security, while Level 4 advises against all travel, according to the United States Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Under Level 1, travellers are advised to exercise normal precautions while visiting the country, it further explains.
This comes after Gilley kicked up a storm over his comments, posted on X, which included criticism of Malaysia’s political leaders, suggesting that their so-called advocacy for a second Holocaust against the Jewish people undermines Malaysia’s credibility on the world stage.
He also made disparaging remarks about Malaysian politicians’ attitudes towards Israel, sparking outrage.
Gilley said Malaysia was “a country whose political leaders advocate a second Holocaust against the Jewish people, will never be a serious player in world affairs and will certainly never be a friend or partner of the United States.”
The post also included an image of Gilley giving a speech while standing at a podium bearing Universiti Malaya’s (UM) name and crest.
In another tweet in the same thread, Gilley said: “This is a long-standing vice of Malaysian politicians going back to Mahathir’s advice to learn from the Germans on how to kill Jews. Today, TV news hosts end daily broadcasts with ‘From the River to the Sea’ and ‘Israel cuak’ (Israel is frightened).”
Yesterday, he tweeted that he had “safely departed” and was away from the “Islamo-fascist mob whipped up by the government”, claiming Malaysia was no longer a safe country for travel.
However, earlier this month, US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan praised Malaysia’s smooth transitions in government since 2018, despite numerous challenges, as a testament to the resilience of its democratic system.
Highlighting Malaysia as “a democratic success story,” Kagan emphasised that these peaceful transitions underscored the country’s growing stature as a democracy in the region, garnering respect from other nations.
Regarding trade, Kagan highlighted Malaysia’s appeal as an investment destination for American companies, noting that the US accounted for 43% of investments in Malaysia, surpassing the combined investment of the next six countries.
This afternoon, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim criticised the move to bring Gilley into Malaysia, labelling him a “mediocre scholar” in light of his controversial comments regarding Malaysia’s stance on Israel.
“(Gilley is a) mediocre scholar, (he) should not (have) been brought as a visiting professor in the first place,” Anwar told reporters during an event at Malaysia Airlines Berhad Academy today.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir ordered UM to cancel all scheduled programmes with Gilley.
UM also issued an apology over the incident, reiterating its support for Malaysia’s stance on the Palestine-Israel conflict.
Zambry stressed that the government’s action was not to curb academic freedom, but the professor had made “crude and dangerous” comments about Malaysia.
Zambry also urged universities to conduct thorough background checks before inviting speakers, adding that Malaysia has its own set of capable academicians as well. – April 26, 2024