We, the undersigned – former university staff members, present university staff members (who cannot include their names here for fear of victimization by the authorities) and civil society organizations – call on the Government to revoke the imposition of the Akujanji pledge with immediate effect.
This requirement of loyalty to the Government – found only in a few repressive university systems in the world – has stifled academic freedom in our country to an unprecedented extent. It has also inculcated a culture of fear, passivity and uncritical thinking in the campuses which is antithetical to the development of our universities and to the quality of teaching and scholarship.
Government leaders, including the Prime Minister, have called on the universities to take up the challenge of upgrading their standards and producing quality teaching and research that will help the nation meet the goals of 2020, including the goals of a matured, liberal, scientific and progressive society. The Aku Janji stands as a major obstacle in the way of our universities rising to this challenge.
In this regard we also call on the Government to reinstate Dr. Azly Rahman, Dr.Mutiara Mohamad and other academicians who have been dismissed as a result of their opposition to the Akujanji. Similarly, others who have suffered in their career development due to the Akujanji should have their cases reviewed and should be provided with justice and redress. These are our academic prisoners of conscience who have been unjustly victimized and whose continued exclusion is a black mark against academia and our democratic system and values.
Our concern is not the first voiced on this issue – academic staff associations and numerous other concerned individuals and organizations have during the past three years spoken out and asked for the abolition of the pledge which is also against the fundamental rights of freedom of association and expression. We hope with this petition that we will be the last to take up this issue.
We feel that this is an urgent matter not simply of academic interest and concern but of national importance too and call on the Government to respond in a fair and enlightened manner and to place the interests of the universities and nation ahead of partisan political ones. The revocation of the pledge is a vital step in ensuring that fundamental rights of freedom of association and expression are not further eroded and that our academicians can play their rightful role in helping our nation advance.
List of Endorsers
Past and Presently Serving Academics in Public Universities (listed alphabetically)
Dr C.E.R. Abraham,
Former Associate Professor Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Abu Bakar A. Hamid
Former Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Malaya
Dr. Agoes Salim
Former Deputy Chairman, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Council
Ahmad Mustapha.
Former Student Leader, University of Malaya, Singapore
Dr. Azmi Sharom
Associate Professor, University of Malaya
Dr. Sharon A. Bong
Former Lecturer, University of Malaya
Dr. Cheah Boon Kheng
Former Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Chee Heng Leng
Former Associate Professor, Universiti Putra Malaysia
Dr. Stephen Chee
Former Professor, University of Malaya
Dr. Farish Noor
Former Lecturer, University of Malaya
Dr. Alberto Gomes
Former Lecturer, University of Malaya
Dr. Terence Gomez
Associate Professor, University of Malaya
Dr. Toby Huff,
Former Visiting Professor, University of Malaya
Philip Koh Tong Ngee
Former Lecturer, University of Malaya
Dr. Khoo Boo Teik
Associate Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Khoo Khay Jin
Former Senior Lecturer, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Cassey Lee
Former Lecturer, University of Malaya
Dr. Patricia A. Martinez
Former Associate Professor, University of Malaya
Dr. Maznah Mohamad
Former Associate Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Mohamed Aslam Haneef
Lecturer, International Islamic University Malaysia
Dr. Lim Lin Lean
Former Associate Professor, University of Malaya
Dr. Lim Teck Ghee
Former Professor, University of Malaya
Dr. Shirley Lim
Former Visiting Lecturer, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Francis Loh Kok Wah
Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Loh Wei Leng
Professor, University of Malaya
Dr. Neoh Soon Kean
Former Lecturer, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Cecilia Ng
Former Associate Professor, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia
Dr. Norchaya Talib
Professor, University of Malaya.
Nur Barizah Abu Bakar
Lecturer, International Islamic University Malaysia
Dr. Mavis Puthucheary
Former Associate Professor, University of Malaya
Dr Rajakumar
Former Deputy Chairman of University of Malaya Council.
Dr. P. Ramasamy
Former Professor, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Dr. Rosli Omar
Associate Professor, University of Malaya
Dr. Johan Saravanamuttu
Former Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Syed Husin Ali
Former Professor, University of Malaya
Dr. Toh Kin Woon
Former Associate Professor, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Tunku Shamsul,Ahmad
Former Professor, University of Malaya
Dr.Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda
Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Wong Chin Huat
Former Associate Research Fellow, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Dr. Diana Wong
Former Associate Professor, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Endorsing NGOs
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
ALIRAN
All Petaling Jaya Action Committee (APPAC)
All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
Center for Independent Journalism
Civil Rights Committee (CRC-KLSCAH)
Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC)
INSANI
Institut Kajian Dasar
Komutine Seni Jalan Telawi
LLG Cultural Development Centre
Malaysian Voters Union (MVU)
Middle Eastern Graduate Society
Monitoring Sustainability of Globalization (MSN)
National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
Open Dialogue Center
Penang Watch
Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM (Lihua)
Persatuan Kakitangan Academik Universiti Malaya (PKAUM)
Pusat Janajaya (EMPOWER)
Research for Social Advancement (REPSA)
Sisters in Islam
Save Ourselves (SOS)
Suaram
United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia.(Dong Zong)
United Chinese School Teachers’ Association of Malaysia (Jiao Zong)
Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY)
Writers Alliance Media Independence (WAMI)
Women’s Aid Organization (WAO)
Women’s Development Collective (WDC)
Youth for Change
Note: The endorsers include many current serving academic staff from the nation’s public universities, including some presently undertaking sabbatical and higher studies programs abroad. They have written to express support of the petition but have requested that their names not be published.
Kuala Lumpur, 24 July 2007