Addressing The UM Controversy: Confronting Ignorant Zionist Propaganda

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."  

Desmond Tutu, Anti-apartheid and Human Rights activist.

The University of Malaya Law Society (UMLS) would like to express our concerns over the recent uproar due to controversial remarks made by Dr. Bruce Gilley, a professor of political science at Portland State University, during his keynote address at a seminar organised by the Universiti Malaya’s (UM) Department of International and Strategic Studies and on his X account after the event. 

UMLS condemns Gilley for making controversial statements in support of Israel, which has been accused of multiple violations of international law in the ongoing conflict. It is also regrettable that the organisers failed to adhere to strict procedures in vetting the background of the speakers when inviting them to events. However, while Gilley's remarks were certainly uncalled for, UMLS hopes that this would not be used as a weapon to stifle academic freedom and further restrict student activities. What is needed is a proper vetting of speakers and not prohibition or cancellation of free academic discourse. 

Overview

Dr. Bruce Gilley was invited to speak at three events at UM. On April 23, 2024, he delivered a keynote address titled "Will Malaysia Become an Active Middle Power?" In a now-deleted X post about his speech, Gilley expressed regret over the harm he caused his academic colleagues. However, he further criticised Malaysia, stating that it would never be a "serious player in world affairs, nor a friend or partner of the US" due to its political leaders championing a "second Holocaust" against Jews and following former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's controversial advice. As a result, the Higher Education Minister, Senator Dato' Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, instructed the immediate cancellation of all programs and activities involving Gilley.

After leaving Malaysia hastily, the US-based professor took to X to further criticise Malaysia, labelling it as an unsafe country due to an "Islamo-fascist mob whipped up by the government". Following his X posts, he also launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for his flight and accommodation costs, claiming he refused reimbursement from UM due to "its disgraceful behaviour and that of the Malaysian government".

The Controversy

The series of posts on X by Gilley has enraged many Malaysian netizens over his polemical remarks. His statements were criticised by activist Ooi Kok Hin, the executive director of Bersih, as irresponsible and untrue, which jeopardised the career of his local hosts.

Many have castigated the organisers for not conducting proper background checks on Gilley before inviting him as a speaker. Gilley is publicly known to be an Israel supporter as he displays the Israel flag on his X account profile. Even among Western academics, he is also no stranger to controversy after he commended Western colonialism and said that it should be “reclaimed”, deemed “legitimate”, and even “resurrected” in the past. His Third World Quarterly journal article The Case for Colonialism which was published in 2017 stirred up an enormous academic storm which led to two petitions being signed by thousands of academics calling for the editor responsible to be sacked. 15 of the journal's 34-member editorial board also resigned in protest. 

On April 25, 2024, UM issued a press statement expressing regret over Gilley's disregard for societal sentiments. The university outlined its commitment to serious consideration of this issue, promising to implement measures to enhance existing procedures and tighten guidelines for evaluating potential speakers. Additionally, UM condemned Gilley's assertions that Malaysia is unsafe, reaffirming its support for the government's position on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the aspirations of Palestine as an independent state. UM has already cancelled all remaining lectures that Gilley was scheduled to deliver at the UM Institute of China Studies, as well as his visiting professorship. 

Simultaneously, the UM Student Union (UMSU) issued a statement condemning Gilley’s remarks and criticising the university’s oversight in this matter. UMSU also reiterated its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause.

Our Stance

The UMLS expresses our profound concern over the recent inflammatory statements made by Dr. Bruce Gilley during his lecture at our institution. These remarks, which supported positions at odds with recognised international law and Malaysian diplomatic principles, have understandably caused significant dismay within our community.

We also express our disappointment over the failure of the organisers to adhere to stringent procedures in vetting speakers while keeping the interest of academic freedom for the benefit of the students. The university should seize this opportunity to foster student engagement, not restrict it. While promoting academic discourse is essential, it is crucial that the speakers invited maintain neutrality and avoid extreme views that are entirely incompatible with the Malaysian context and the university’s principles. This oversight has led to an unwarranted endorsement of viewpoints that conflict with Malaysia's established position on international law violations by Israel.

Dr. Gilley’s assertions about the safety of Malaysia and his characterisations of our political leadership were not only misleading but also inappropriate for an academic discourse intended to educate and inform. Such statements do not reflect the values of respect and understanding that UMLS upholds. Furthermore, Dr. Gilley's comments that "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" were particularly intolerable and represents a gross misrepresentation of Malaysia's foreign policy and humanitarian stance.

UMLS stands in solidarity with the Palestinians and remains deeply concerned by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The recent actions of Israel, as noted by the United Nations General Assembly and its President Dennis Francis, have led to severe consequences for civilians in Gaza, including widespread destruction of essential infrastructure and limitations on access to crucial supplies. These actions violate fundamental principles of international law and human rights, something that was notably overlooked in Dr. Gilley’s remarks.

It is essential to critique the hypocrisy evident in Dr. Gilley’s approach, which utilised an academic platform to disseminate controversial viewpoints that lacked a balanced perspective and ignored substantial facts. His failure to recognise the violations of international law by Israel while condemning Malaysia demonstrates a concerning bias that undermines the educational objectives of academic discourse.

UMLS reaffirms its commitment to advocating for justice and human rights. Our stance towards the Israel-Palestine conflict aligns with international norms and the pursuit of peace and justice for all affected populations. We continue to support diplomatic and peaceful solutions to this long-standing conflict, reflecting our broader commitment to upholding human dignity and international law.

In conclusion, UMLS takes this incident as a reminder of the critical role that academic institutions must play in promoting informed and respectful dialogue. We remain dedicated to fostering an environment where all voices can be heard, and where the complexities of international issues are explored with rigour and impartiality. Nonetheless, we hope that this incident will not be used as a weapon to stifle academic freedom and further restrict student activities.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this press statement do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya and Universiti Malaya respectively. For the sake of conciseness, the UM Law Society has only selected a few issues to elaborate on, which may not represent the whole picture of the incident. The UM Law Society only intends to provide our collective view on this issue from an academic legal perspective. 

UM Law Society (UMLS) 23/24

27 April 2024

Email: lawsocietyum@gmail.com

Website: www.umlawsociety.com 

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