SHAH ALAM, 26 Nov: The Central government should follow in the footsteps of the state government in ensuring academic freedom in the country.

Yaakob Sapari (PKR-Kota Anggerik) said that the state government, through the University of Selangor (UNISEL), is rich in knowledge discourses.

He said that the opposition, Umno in particular, is always welcome to join knowledge programmes.

“The old practice of the central government behind draconian Acts such as the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) only impedes the culture of thinking among students.

“Academics who obtain findings that contradict with the government’s appetite are considered as the opposition, resulting in Public Higher Learning Institutions (PHLI) failing to compete with universities in the world,” he said during the Selangor State Assembly today.

Yaakob also hopes that university students, especially those from UNISEL, to be given freedom to join any political party.

“Administrators should not be afraid of facing students, do not follow some professors who have small spirits and are not independent.

“Like recently, the former Deputy Prime Minister was prevented by university administrators to speak. In the world which is becoming more developed, do not shackle the people’s thinking anymore,” he said.

NS