MUZZLING ACADEMIC AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM
 

The Education Ministry's recent directive to muzzle academics who have been voicing informed views about the smog and other environmental issues is regrettable and disappointing. It is also undemocratic and goes against the spirit of intellectual freedom. Aliran does not see how such a gag order can help the tourism industry.

Academics, by the very nature of their profession, are expected to pursue truth and share their findings with society, no matter how painful they may be. In this way, academics are being socially responsible and relevant, and are helping to  build an informed society.

Academics doing serious research and publicising their findings should be appreciated instead of being blamed for damaging the tourism industry. The ideas and arguments of academics need to be known so that others can debate their findings. If the findings are speculative and erroneous, they should be challenged professionally in an academic or public environment so that more accurate results can emerge.

Instead of a gag order, the Cabinet should take up the smog issue seriously with the Indonesian authorities. Rather than blaming academics, the Government should demand compensation from the Indonesians for the  losses suffered by the Malaysian economy as a result of the smog, and for the harmful effects it has had on the health of Malaysians.

The Cabinet should not deceive itself and mislead the people about the real reason for the collapse of the tourism industry. The industry is suffering not because of academics’ views but because of the smog. The smog also continues to threaten the general health of the people of this region. It is unfair and a travesty of justice to single out academics and brand them as alarmist when they are trying to explain to the people how best to protect themselves from the risks posed by the smog and its long-term effects on their health.

The Cabinet should be ashamed of itself for issuing such an absurd directive. Academics, it must be stressed, are not in the business of churning out only 'positive' evaluations or conclusions. It seems rather silly to try to ban alarming news or ‘negative’ views in this era of globalisation, when information crosses borders in split seconds. These views will still be accessible to those who seek them. Silencing bad news will not make problems go away and may instead only encourage baseless speculation. Furthermore, if we gag academics, how can we possibly turn Malaysia into a centre of educational excellence?

The Cabinet gag-order is a step backwards in our quest towards a civil society. Aliran, therefore, urges the Cabinet to immediately revoke this directive in the national interest.
 

Gan Kong Hwee
Aliran Executive Committee
7 November 1997