Authors Nurulwahida Azid@Aziz and Muhammad Noor Abdul Aziz argue that Malaysian higher education institutions face a significant contradiction. While universities officially promote critical thinking and intellectual independence as core graduate attributes, they often react negatively when students apply these skills to sensitive real-world issues. The authors highlight a recent incident involving a student who questioned fundraising efforts for former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. The subsequent public backlash suggests that academic environments may be discouraging genuine inquiry rather than fostering it. This trend raises concerns that the education system prioritizes conformity over the development of independent thought, effectively teaching students to remain silent when faced with controversial topics instead of engaging in meaningful intellectual discourse.
Source : Malay Mail
Photo : Malay Mail
