PETALING JAYA: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) says it does not restrict the freedom of speech of its members in expressing statements, whether orally or in writing, including on social media.
The university welcomes any differences in opinion that benefit society and the nation, it said in a statement on Facebook Thursday (Oct 17) night.
“Constructive public statements are highly encouraged for knowledge and academic discipline, serving as a catalyst for scholarly discussions among members of the university.
“Ethics and maturity in presenting views and arguments should be practised through good communication methods, offering constructive criticism, where every opinion should be supported by facts and within the scope of academic discipline and expertise.
“As an institution that holds public intellectualism in high regard, UKM consistently encourages its members to speak up based on the tradition of knowledge and its role as a national university,” the statement read.
UKM’s statement came following reports on news portals that Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah claimed it had issued a directive prohibiting its staff from making public statements, especially those critical of the government or its policies.
On Oct 8, UKM issued a circular instructing civil servants, including officers of statutory bodies, to avoid making statements that could undermine government policies or cause embarrassment to government entities.