Pusat KOMAS would like to applaud the decision of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in sacking the lecturer who was at the centre of a controversy over its Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies (TITAS) module last month. Racist lecture materials by a UTM lecturer which portrayed Hindus as “dirty” and inaccurate text on the history of Sikhism had sparked uproar among Hindu and Sikh communities. This incident came into light after slides depicting such information went viral online.
Following the incident, UTM vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Wahid Omar apologised and pledged a thorough investigation into the incident. In fact, the independent panel of TITAS experts have unanimously found factual errors in the slides prepared and it is not in line with the TITAS course’s intention to promote harmony and understanding in Malaysia.
Pusat KOMAS would like to congratulate the swift action of the UTM management in overcoming this controversy. However, such issues should not have taken place in the first place. The education system should promote unity and harmony and not further erode the social fabric among Malaysians.
Even though incidents like this are considered isolated cases, pre-emptive measures should be taken in order to ensure that such issues should not happen again. In fact, there is a need for all education institutions to ensure that no forms of provocative or racial discriminatory elements are embedded in the education syllabus. There is definitely no room for racism and intolerance in the education system in a country like Malaysia.
Pre-emptive measures should be taken to ensure that our education system is not manipulated to spread hatred and intolerance but instead promote national unity and harmony in line with true spirit of “Muhibbah” that this country was originally built upon.
Incidentally Pusat KOMAS in its recently launched ‘Racism Report 2015’ had made an important recommendation, among others, for the Malaysian government to “take the lead and initiative to carry out intense and widespread public and social awareness education through mass campaigns, public information and especially through the formal education system, in order to educate, promote and instil consciousness and eradicate racism and discrimination at all levels of the Malaysian society.”
It is important to note that the Malaysian constitution clearly states in Article 8 (1) that “All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law,” and part (2) which says, “Except as expressly authorized by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent or place of birth or gender in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment under a public authority or in the administration of any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing on carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.”
Also under Article 12 (1) it says “Without prejudice to the generality of Article 8, there shall be no discrimination against any citizen on the grounds only of religion, race, descent or place of birth.
We call on all educational institutions to ensure that education must enable all persons to participate effectively in their respective societies, promote understanding tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial and religious groups as stated in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.
Pusat KOMAS