KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that no action would be taken against students who criticise him or the government, saying it was not a crime to make criticisms.
Education, after all, was aimed at inculcating critical thinking, he said when opening a youth summit here. “You have to defend your position,” he said.
Anwar said that leaders, as with students, would make mistakes, including plundering billions from the nation’s coffers.
"I urge the youth to have the courage to stand on the side of truth, oppose corruption, reject oppression, and never compromise with injustice. This is the mandate for today's generation: to steadfastly uphold principles, champion justice, and drive change in order to build a nation defined by integrity and dignity.
"May the youth of today emerge as principled, trustworthy, and courageous leaders, ready to shoulder the responsibility of steering Malaysia towards a better future," he said.
Halt to university action
The prime minister's remarks were made in a speech at an international gathering of young future leaders and came days after he announced in the Dewan Rakyat that disciplinary proceedings at public universities relating to freedom of speech, expression of views, public criticism and peaceful assembly would be halted with immediate effect.
He also said the higher education ministry was preparing a comprehensive legal framework to replace the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971.
His reaffirmation of upholding free speech comes more than a week after student activist Wong Yan Ke failed to overturn his conviction and RM10,000 fine for insulting the Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor and graduating students in a protest during the 2019 convocation.
Wong was convicted in 2023 for insulting Abdul Rahim Hashim, the vice-chancellor then, and other attendees by carrying a placard on stage demanding Rahim’s resignation.
In August, Anwar said universities should ease disciplinary action against students subjected to disciplinary proceedings for expressing their views or criticisms. He said students should be given greater freedom to express their views and criticise institutions, as universities should serve as spaces for critical thinking and fresh ideas.